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Bare-knuckle fights appear on web

6:17am Monday 21st April 2008

Comments (128)   Have your say »

By Will Kilner »

Disturbing video footage of vicious bare-knuckle fighting on a Bradford housing estate has been posted on the internet.

Half a dozen videos, condemned as "absolutely reprehensible" by community leaders, show blood-soaked teenagers going head-to-head in brawls in Holme Wood.

In one of the clips, posted on the YouTube website, a teenager is knocked to the ground, then repeatedly punched in the face until he finally re-emerges, covered in blood.

The videos show competitors taking off their shirts to distinguish themselves from the baying crowd, who surround the fighters and cheer every punch.

West Yorkshire Police said an inquiry had been started into reports of street fights in the Holme Wood area. Officers have increased patrols and will be visiting schools as part of their investigations.

YouTube has now removed a number of the videos because they violate the website's terms and conditions. Its rules prohibit videos featuring gratuitous violence and the company said it was sad that a tiny minority of people tried to break these rules.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said: "There's a great deal of effort going into improving life in Holme Wood and what we don't want is the public being exposed to this. It creates fear and uncertainty.

"I would be opposed to this and would urge it to stop immediately. These people are not heroes or role models. They are breaking the law."

Mr Sutcliffe said he is due to meet YouTube bosses in his capacity as Minister for Culture, Media and Sport.

He said: "I will be raising the issue of these videos with YouTube. They should not be publicising this kind of thing. They have got to show more responsibility."

Tommy Hughes, Bradford Council's senior policy officer for safer communities, said: "Bradford Council finds these videos absolutely reprehensible and we have already contacted YouTube get this material removed.

"Councillors and council officers, including our neighbourhood wardens and Anti-Social Behaviour Team, will be offering West Yorkshire Police our full support in working to identify the people responsible for this criminal behaviour.

"We understand that this issue is not just a local one but something which has happened in other parts of the country and we will work with the Police and other agencies to stamp out such violence and anti-social behaviour."

Other illegal activities, including footage of motorbikes pulling wheelies and cars performing hand-brake turns on residential streets in Bradford, have also been posted on Youtube.

A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: "West Yorkshire Police are aware of activities, like those that appeared in the YouTube videos, that go on across the force and country.

"Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team 3 covers the area in question - Holme Wood.

"Inquiries are ongoing in response to reports of street fights in the area, and officers have increased patrols and will be visiting schools as part of their inquiry.

"West Yorkshire Police cannot base investigations on video clips. If a crime is reported we will investigate it."

A YouTube spokesman said: "YouTube is a community site used by millions of people in very positive ways. Sadly, as with any form of communication, there is a tiny minority of people who try to break the rules.

"On YouTube, these rules prohibit content like pornography or gratuitous violence. When people see content that they think is inappropriate they can flag it and our staff then review it. If the content breaks our terms then we remove it and if a user repeatedly breaks the rules we disable their account."

Canon Gordon Dey, vicar of Tong and Holme Wood, said: "If that sort of thing is happening in Holme Wood, then it's extremely rare and very untypical.

"Life is not generally like that here. The impression I have got is that Holme Wood is improving all the time.

"I am really quite surprised because we doing a lot of work here for young people on the estate.

"The thing with this estate is that it's a vast place and it's the biggest social housing estate in Bradford by a long way. To describe it in simple terms is not possible.

"This could be happening in pockets of Holme Wood where there are more problems than elsewhere. It's easy to brand an estate like Holme Wood as all being the same - but that's not the case. There are huge variations."

Your Say YourBradford

albion, west riding says...
7:54pm Wed 30 Apr 08

Hmm, lots of profound and considered comments there.

albion, west riding says...
7:54pm Wed 30 Apr 08

Hmm, lots of profound and considered comments there.

albion, west riding says...
7:54pm Wed 30 Apr 08

Hmm, lots of profound and considered comments there.

albion, west riding says...
7:54pm Wed 30 Apr 08

Hmm, lots of profound and considered comments there.

holmewood89, holmewood says...
10:19pm Fri 25 Apr 08

im outta bfd wrote:
let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
Why would they want to mugg you silly bas***d! they r fighting not f***ing mugging people! Ya f***ing rarf !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

holmewood89, holmewood says...
10:19pm Fri 25 Apr 08

im outta bfd wrote:
let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
Why would they want to mugg you silly bas***d! they r fighting not f***ing mugging people! Ya f***ing rarf !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

holmewood89, holmewood says...
10:19pm Fri 25 Apr 08

im outta bfd wrote:
let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
Why would they want to mugg you silly bas***d! they r fighting not f***ing mugging people! Ya f***ing rarf !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

holmewood89, holmewood says...
10:19pm Fri 25 Apr 08

im outta bfd wrote:
let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
Why would they want to mugg you silly bas***d! they r fighting not f***ing mugging people! Ya f***ing rarf !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

holmewood89, holmewood says...
10:17pm Fri 25 Apr 08

why would they want to mug you they r fighting not mugging people YOU ALL NEED TO GROW UP!
You all r pathetic u sad B******ds
you all should get ya heads kicked in.

holmewood89, holmewood says...
10:17pm Fri 25 Apr 08

why would they want to mug you they r fighting not mugging people YOU ALL NEED TO GROW UP!
You all r pathetic u sad B******ds
you all should get ya heads kicked in.

holmewood89, holmewood says...
10:17pm Fri 25 Apr 08

why would they want to mug you they r fighting not mugging people YOU ALL NEED TO GROW UP!
You all r pathetic u sad B******ds
you all should get ya heads kicked in.

holmewood89, holmewood says...
10:17pm Fri 25 Apr 08

why would they want to mug you they r fighting not mugging people YOU ALL NEED TO GROW UP!
You all r pathetic u sad B******ds
you all should get ya heads kicked in.

albion, west riding says...
9:12pm Wed 23 Apr 08

mrs walker wrote:
im outta bfd wrote: let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
As long as you keep your shirt on you should be safe...
Ditto.

albion, west riding says...
9:12pm Wed 23 Apr 08

mrs walker wrote:
im outta bfd wrote: let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
As long as you keep your shirt on you should be safe...
Ditto.

albion, west riding says...
9:12pm Wed 23 Apr 08

mrs walker wrote:
im outta bfd wrote: let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
As long as you keep your shirt on you should be safe...
Ditto.

albion, west riding says...
9:12pm Wed 23 Apr 08

mrs walker wrote:
im outta bfd wrote: let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
As long as you keep your shirt on you should be safe...
Ditto.

mrs walker, round here says...
6:51pm Wed 23 Apr 08

im outta bfd wrote:
let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
As long as you keep your shirt on you should be safe...

mrs walker, round here says...
6:51pm Wed 23 Apr 08

im outta bfd wrote:
let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
As long as you keep your shirt on you should be safe...

mrs walker, round here says...
6:51pm Wed 23 Apr 08

im outta bfd wrote:
let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
As long as you keep your shirt on you should be safe...

mrs walker, round here says...
6:51pm Wed 23 Apr 08

im outta bfd wrote:
let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!
As long as you keep your shirt on you should be safe...

im outta bfd, elsewhere says...
12:12am Wed 23 Apr 08

let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!

im outta bfd, elsewhere says...
12:12am Wed 23 Apr 08

let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!

im outta bfd, elsewhere says...
12:12am Wed 23 Apr 08

let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!

im outta bfd, elsewhere says...
12:12am Wed 23 Apr 08

let em get on with it! however, could they at least announce the dates and times of the fights so the vulnerable know when its safe to go get their shoppping without being mugged!

holmewood89, holmewood says...
8:16pm Tue 22 Apr 08

you lot r sad if this was a lad getting bullied then u all would be like i would kick is head in,,,he should batter him,,
these lads are fighting because they want to fight its up to them what they do,,so if you lot dont like it then tuff,,dont u do it !!
quote

holmewood89, holmewood says...
8:16pm Tue 22 Apr 08

you lot r sad if this was a lad getting bullied then u all would be like i would kick is head in,,,he should batter him,,
these lads are fighting because they want to fight its up to them what they do,,so if you lot dont like it then tuff,,dont u do it !!
quote

holmewood89, holmewood says...
8:16pm Tue 22 Apr 08

you lot r sad if this was a lad getting bullied then u all would be like i would kick is head in,,,he should batter him,,
these lads are fighting because they want to fight its up to them what they do,,so if you lot dont like it then tuff,,dont u do it !!
quote

holmewood89, holmewood says...
8:16pm Tue 22 Apr 08

you lot r sad if this was a lad getting bullied then u all would be like i would kick is head in,,,he should batter him,,
these lads are fighting because they want to fight its up to them what they do,,so if you lot dont like it then tuff,,dont u do it !!
quote

mister23, tong says...
11:35pm Mon 21 Apr 08

WOODY SLAGGING OF HOLMEWOOD AND YOU LIVE IN MANNINGHAM YOU COULDNT GIVE ME A HOUSE FREE AND MARK JOHNSON HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY HAVNT HAD YOUR SISTER I BET NONE OF YOU WOULD FIGHT THESE LADS

mister23, tong says...
11:35pm Mon 21 Apr 08

WOODY SLAGGING OF HOLMEWOOD AND YOU LIVE IN MANNINGHAM YOU COULDNT GIVE ME A HOUSE FREE AND MARK JOHNSON HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY HAVNT HAD YOUR SISTER I BET NONE OF YOU WOULD FIGHT THESE LADS

mister23, tong says...
11:35pm Mon 21 Apr 08

WOODY SLAGGING OF HOLMEWOOD AND YOU LIVE IN MANNINGHAM YOU COULDNT GIVE ME A HOUSE FREE AND MARK JOHNSON HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY HAVNT HAD YOUR SISTER I BET NONE OF YOU WOULD FIGHT THESE LADS

mister23, tong says...
11:35pm Mon 21 Apr 08

WOODY SLAGGING OF HOLMEWOOD AND YOU LIVE IN MANNINGHAM YOU COULDNT GIVE ME A HOUSE FREE AND MARK JOHNSON HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY HAVNT HAD YOUR SISTER I BET NONE OF YOU WOULD FIGHT THESE LADS

Mickl84, Bradford says...
10:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I say let them fight if they want to, they are not hurting anybody except themselves. After all, both competitors are willingly engaged in combat.

Mickl84, Bradford says...
10:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I say let them fight if they want to, they are not hurting anybody except themselves. After all, both competitors are willingly engaged in combat.

Mickl84, Bradford says...
10:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I say let them fight if they want to, they are not hurting anybody except themselves. After all, both competitors are willingly engaged in combat.

Mickl84, Bradford says...
10:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I say let them fight if they want to, they are not hurting anybody except themselves. After all, both competitors are willingly engaged in combat.

Pete, Bradford says...
8:33pm Mon 21 Apr 08

What are you lot whinging about; you're so wet,the lot of you. These lads are fearless, have character and bottle. The sort of lads I'd like to have on my side any day. This sort of thing was quite common in the South Yorkshire pit village where I grew up. Often they were settling disputes, sometimes it was to establish who was the hardest - as lads do. All those I saw fighting grew up and were decent people with families. It's just a harmless stage in life.

Pete, Bradford says...
8:33pm Mon 21 Apr 08

What are you lot whinging about; you're so wet,the lot of you. These lads are fearless, have character and bottle. The sort of lads I'd like to have on my side any day. This sort of thing was quite common in the South Yorkshire pit village where I grew up. Often they were settling disputes, sometimes it was to establish who was the hardest - as lads do. All those I saw fighting grew up and were decent people with families. It's just a harmless stage in life.

Pete, Bradford says...
8:33pm Mon 21 Apr 08

What are you lot whinging about; you're so wet,the lot of you. These lads are fearless, have character and bottle. The sort of lads I'd like to have on my side any day. This sort of thing was quite common in the South Yorkshire pit village where I grew up. Often they were settling disputes, sometimes it was to establish who was the hardest - as lads do. All those I saw fighting grew up and were decent people with families. It's just a harmless stage in life.

Pete, Bradford says...
8:33pm Mon 21 Apr 08

What are you lot whinging about; you're so wet,the lot of you. These lads are fearless, have character and bottle. The sort of lads I'd like to have on my side any day. This sort of thing was quite common in the South Yorkshire pit village where I grew up. Often they were settling disputes, sometimes it was to establish who was the hardest - as lads do. All those I saw fighting grew up and were decent people with families. It's just a harmless stage in life.

krobo, bradford says...
7:32pm Mon 21 Apr 08

If the people of the Holme Wood Estate want to see mindless violence watch boxing,like i do,or UFC.But if you want to get involved just dont bother filming it.

krobo, bradford says...
7:32pm Mon 21 Apr 08

If the people of the Holme Wood Estate want to see mindless violence watch boxing,like i do,or UFC.But if you want to get involved just dont bother filming it.

krobo, bradford says...
7:32pm Mon 21 Apr 08

If the people of the Holme Wood Estate want to see mindless violence watch boxing,like i do,or UFC.But if you want to get involved just dont bother filming it.

krobo, bradford says...
7:32pm Mon 21 Apr 08

If the people of the Holme Wood Estate want to see mindless violence watch boxing,like i do,or UFC.But if you want to get involved just dont bother filming it.

Imran, Heaton says...
7:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08

If these lads fancy themselves as fighters, why dont they get themselves in a boxing gym and do it for real, rather than making themselves look like regular hooligans......

Theres a lot of money in boxing if you have got genuine talent....street fighting is for brain dead drongos....

Imran, Heaton says...
7:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08

If these lads fancy themselves as fighters, why dont they get themselves in a boxing gym and do it for real, rather than making themselves look like regular hooligans......

Theres a lot of money in boxing if you have got genuine talent....street fighting is for brain dead drongos....

Imran, Heaton says...
7:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08

If these lads fancy themselves as fighters, why dont they get themselves in a boxing gym and do it for real, rather than making themselves look like regular hooligans......

Theres a lot of money in boxing if you have got genuine talent....street fighting is for brain dead drongos....

Imran, Heaton says...
7:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08

If these lads fancy themselves as fighters, why dont they get themselves in a boxing gym and do it for real, rather than making themselves look like regular hooligans......

Theres a lot of money in boxing if you have got genuine talent....street fighting is for brain dead drongos....

Gentleman Jim, Yooohooo over here says...
6:09pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Doing summat important like guarding the joke centre so no marks like you can wander in there occasionaly to aid in the improper gaining of benefits. I really hope this isn't you Steve.

Gentleman Jim, Yooohooo over here says...
6:09pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Doing summat important like guarding the joke centre so no marks like you can wander in there occasionaly to aid in the improper gaining of benefits. I really hope this isn't you Steve.

Gentleman Jim, Yooohooo over here says...
6:09pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Doing summat important like guarding the joke centre so no marks like you can wander in there occasionaly to aid in the improper gaining of benefits. I really hope this isn't you Steve.

Gentleman Jim, Yooohooo over here says...
6:09pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Doing summat important like guarding the joke centre so no marks like you can wander in there occasionaly to aid in the improper gaining of benefits. I really hope this isn't you Steve.

Woody, Manningham says...
5:40pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Typical brain-dead Bradford yobbos. Doesn't surprise me. I wouldn't live on any of the Council estates if you doubled my dole. Where were the cops?

Woody, Manningham says...
5:40pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Typical brain-dead Bradford yobbos. Doesn't surprise me. I wouldn't live on any of the Council estates if you doubled my dole. Where were the cops?

Woody, Manningham says...
5:40pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Typical brain-dead Bradford yobbos. Doesn't surprise me. I wouldn't live on any of the Council estates if you doubled my dole. Where were the cops?

Woody, Manningham says...
5:40pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Typical brain-dead Bradford yobbos. Doesn't surprise me. I wouldn't live on any of the Council estates if you doubled my dole. Where were the cops?

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
5:15pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I'd like to know who's nicked mobile phone they used to photograph it.

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
5:15pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I'd like to know who's nicked mobile phone they used to photograph it.

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
5:15pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I'd like to know who's nicked mobile phone they used to photograph it.

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
5:15pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I'd like to know who's nicked mobile phone they used to photograph it.

Mark Johnson, Bradford says...
3:54pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I'm sure I know where one of them lives, after they have finished watching Jeremy Kyle repeats on ITV2 they have sod all to do. The ambulance service are not bothered, at it might knock some sense into the brain dead idiots on the estate

Mark Johnson, Bradford says...
3:54pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I'm sure I know where one of them lives, after they have finished watching Jeremy Kyle repeats on ITV2 they have sod all to do. The ambulance service are not bothered, at it might knock some sense into the brain dead idiots on the estate

Mark Johnson, Bradford says...
3:54pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I'm sure I know where one of them lives, after they have finished watching Jeremy Kyle repeats on ITV2 they have sod all to do. The ambulance service are not bothered, at it might knock some sense into the brain dead idiots on the estate

Mark Johnson, Bradford says...
3:54pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I'm sure I know where one of them lives, after they have finished watching Jeremy Kyle repeats on ITV2 they have sod all to do. The ambulance service are not bothered, at it might knock some sense into the brain dead idiots on the estate

manumish, Bradford says...
2:51pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I lived on Holmewood as a kid and i can say it was the best for my time of life but i am glad my kids are getting brought up else where. There is nothing for the kids today except this mindless thuggary, theft and drugs. Open the TFD Youth Centre and get kids boxing for an hobby put there energies to better use and keep it contained.

manumish, Bradford says...
2:51pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I lived on Holmewood as a kid and i can say it was the best for my time of life but i am glad my kids are getting brought up else where. There is nothing for the kids today except this mindless thuggary, theft and drugs. Open the TFD Youth Centre and get kids boxing for an hobby put there energies to better use and keep it contained.

manumish, Bradford says...
2:51pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I lived on Holmewood as a kid and i can say it was the best for my time of life but i am glad my kids are getting brought up else where. There is nothing for the kids today except this mindless thuggary, theft and drugs. Open the TFD Youth Centre and get kids boxing for an hobby put there energies to better use and keep it contained.

manumish, Bradford says...
2:51pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I lived on Holmewood as a kid and i can say it was the best for my time of life but i am glad my kids are getting brought up else where. There is nothing for the kids today except this mindless thuggary, theft and drugs. Open the TFD Youth Centre and get kids boxing for an hobby put there energies to better use and keep it contained.

anon, bradford says...
2:33pm Mon 21 Apr 08

mr snooty from riddlesden.we live on the holmewood estate and we work for a living and we are NOT underclass.and not all parts of the estate are filth pits. there are bad spots in ALL estates including riddlesden

anon, bradford says...
2:33pm Mon 21 Apr 08

mr snooty from riddlesden.we live on the holmewood estate and we work for a living and we are NOT underclass.and not all parts of the estate are filth pits. there are bad spots in ALL estates including riddlesden

anon, bradford says...
2:33pm Mon 21 Apr 08

mr snooty from riddlesden.we live on the holmewood estate and we work for a living and we are NOT underclass.and not all parts of the estate are filth pits. there are bad spots in ALL estates including riddlesden

anon, bradford says...
2:33pm Mon 21 Apr 08

mr snooty from riddlesden.we live on the holmewood estate and we work for a living and we are NOT underclass.and not all parts of the estate are filth pits. there are bad spots in ALL estates including riddlesden

marcodelapuebla, Riddlesden says...
2:28pm Mon 21 Apr 08

It's a Pikey thing, just leave them to it,what is tht vicar on, the place is a complete filth pit. Stop pouring money into these areas it all goes on white cider.When will we learn to leave the underclass to rot. I'd take them both on they looked pathetically weedy to me. Cheers pass the White Lightening Dermot.

marcodelapuebla, Riddlesden says...
2:28pm Mon 21 Apr 08

It's a Pikey thing, just leave them to it,what is tht vicar on, the place is a complete filth pit. Stop pouring money into these areas it all goes on white cider.When will we learn to leave the underclass to rot. I'd take them both on they looked pathetically weedy to me. Cheers pass the White Lightening Dermot.

marcodelapuebla, Riddlesden says...
2:28pm Mon 21 Apr 08

It's a Pikey thing, just leave them to it,what is tht vicar on, the place is a complete filth pit. Stop pouring money into these areas it all goes on white cider.When will we learn to leave the underclass to rot. I'd take them both on they looked pathetically weedy to me. Cheers pass the White Lightening Dermot.

marcodelapuebla, Riddlesden says...
2:28pm Mon 21 Apr 08

It's a Pikey thing, just leave them to it,what is tht vicar on, the place is a complete filth pit. Stop pouring money into these areas it all goes on white cider.When will we learn to leave the underclass to rot. I'd take them both on they looked pathetically weedy to me. Cheers pass the White Lightening Dermot.

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
1:51pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I suppose it's better than screwing somone's home.

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
1:51pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I suppose it's better than screwing somone's home.

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
1:51pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I suppose it's better than screwing somone's home.

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
1:51pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I suppose it's better than screwing somone's home.