Ball trouble
Two drunken students were arrested for harrassment at the Union's Ice Ball on Saturday night. The pair, who cannot be identified, were escorted off the premises by the police.
Earlier that evening, female ball goers had informed security staff that they were being harassed by two drunk students. At about 11.00, they were approached by Union organisers and asked to leave the premises.
Initially the men were satisfied to cooperate, and were then taken by ball security out to the gates. Once there, however, they refused to leave the building. Despite threats to call the authorities, the two refused to leave.
A spokesperson for the Oxford Union said that "luckily there were a couple of officers on the beat nearby. They were able to come in and deal with the problem without causing any disturbance to the other people at the Ball."
After being taken off the premises the men were arrested, and it is believed that they have subsequently been charged.
Three police officers remained on the premises until the end of the ball at 2am to take statements from the women who had reported the harassment.
Thames Valley Police were unable to comment when contacted, saying only that the two men had been arrested.
In addition to the criminal charges believed to be currently being brought, sources have reported that Union officers have handed out fines to the two members responsible.
8th Nov 2001