Police close in on bare-knuckle fighters

11:17pm Friday 16th May 2008

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The net is closing on the teenagers captured on camera taking part in bare-knuckle fights on a Bradford housing estate.

West Yorkshire Police say they have now identified all of the offenders who featured in video footage posted on the YouTube website.

Officers say they will "go after" the offenders once they receive copies of the footage from YouTube.

Last month, the Telegraph & Argus revealed how half-a-dozen clips had appeared on the internet showing bloodsoaked teenagers going head-to-head in brawls in Holme Wood.

The footage was removed by YouTube bosses on April 21 after community leaders condemned it as "absolutely reprehensible".

In one of the clips, a teenager was knocked to the ground, then repeatedly punched in the face until he finally re-emerged, covered in blood.

The videos showed competitors taking off their shirts to distinguish themselves from the baying crowd, who surrounded the fighters and cheered every punch.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "All the offenders have been identified but we are just waiting for the footage to be provided by YouTube.

"Once we get that, we are ready to go after them."

A spokesman for YouTube said: "If there is any illegal activity taking place or if the police think that a video may be evidence of a crime, then we encourage the police to get in touch with us under the laws the government introduced for disclosure of data."

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, who condemned the videos when the details emerged last month, said he welcomed the progress in the police investigation.

He said: "I'm pleased the police are taking it seriously and I hope that arrests follow. It's not something we want to see."

Mr Sutcliffe, who is also Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, said officials from his department had held a meeting with YouTube bosses where they discussed the fighting videos.

Officials were keen to seek assurances that such material would not appear again on the website in future.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "We have raised it with YouTube. They are obviously concerned and are looking at their own policies and procedures."

Councillor John Ruding said: "I am looking forward to seeing the police report that identifies the scale of the problem because we don't believe that it's a widespread problem."

Coun Ruding said there was a possibility that an organised boxing school could be set up in the youth centre, in Broadstone Way, Holme Wood.

He said: "They are planning to provide some proper facilities which will allow boxers to learn the discipline that goes with that activity and to be properly supervised."