Nightclub fracas

Trouble broke out in front of Club East and Persia Lounge Bar and Restaurant, in Railway Approach, at around 12.30am on Friday, December 17.

Police say disturbances started as around 200 revellers waited outside to go home.

Sergeant Carl Knapp attended the incident and warned the Chapman Group, which owns the club, formerly called XS, to take action against drunken behaviour.

He said: "It was a bit of naivety on the owners' part on the opening night.

"A lot of drunk people were out in the street. They were not being overly aggressive but every now and again, little pockets of trouble broke out.

"There hasn't been any trouble since so they seem to have learned from it. We just hope it doesn't happen in future," he said.

Richard Pipe, the Chapman Group's operations director, said: "There was some minor trouble outside the club."

He said the incident was caused by a group of people who wanted to misbehave.

He said the club was working to make sure there was not a repeat.

Sgt Knapp said a number of those arrested were given 40 and 80 fines for drunkenness.

Councillor Tom Wye, an adviser on tackling anti-social behaviour, was out on patrol with police when it happened.

He said: "It confirmed my worst fears that Worthing at night is not very nice. Everyone who was arrested had many, many chances to walk away but continued to shout abuse.

"And it wasn't just youngsters by any stretch of the imagination. There were quite a few older people as well."