Police probe 'sexual assault' on woman at Appleby Horse Fair during weekend of violence as clean up begins after travellers torched caravans, dumped horse manure and left fields strewn with rubbish
A young woman is feared to have suffered a sexual assault in a field at the Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria.
Police have launched an investigation after the victim, in her 20s, was found in a 'distressed state' near St Lawrence's Church on Sunday morning.
The suspected sex attack came after at least seven arrests were made after brawls broke out between feuding families on Friday and Saturday, while the streets were left covered in horse manure and rubbish, and one caravan was left completely torched.
The woman, believed to be from the traveller community, was taken away by ambulance while officers cordoned off the area where she was found.
Around 10,000 people from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community descended on the small town of Appleby for the annual four-day cultural event over the weekend - which was marred by violent outbursts.
A makeshift toilet with soiled clothes and tissues was also discovered by locals, many of whom now want the event cancelled for good, with one branding some of the behaviour 'appalling'.
A burnt out caravan is left on a field in Appleby, Cumbria, following the four-day Appleby horse Fair
The burnt out caravan will now have to be dealt with by locals
Hundreds of cardboard boxes are among the thousands of littered items left behind in Appleby
Two leather stools and rubbish litter a field in Appleby following the horse fair - with one local branding the behaviour of attendees 'appalling'
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Empty food packages and beer cans polluted the Cumbria landscape following the four-day event
The return of the horse fair was marred by violence and a suspected sexual assault, while severe littering polluted the landscape
Bin bags, chairs and and other rubbish dumped on fields mean a big clean-up job for locals
Appleby attendees prepare to leave the site, with mounds of plastic rubbish strewn across the area
A massive cleanup operation will be carried to cope with the amounts of rubbish left behind
Robert Docherty, Assistant Director Communities at Eden District Council, said: 'For a variety of reasons this has been a difficult and challenging fair for everyone involved' - citing complaints made by locals
A member of the RSPCA removes rubbish which had been thrown into the River Eden during the Appleby Horse Fair
The moment travellers began to arrive Thursday at Appleby Horse Fair, Appleby-in-Westmorland in Cumbria. It is billed as the biggest tradition Gypsy gathering in Europe
Locals branded the behaviour of some of the attendees as 'appalling' with one calling for the event to be cancelled for good
Volunteer begins picking up rubbish amid a sea of littered items Monday where stalls selling goods had set up shop over the weekend
Boxes of food and bottles and plastic bags are left dumped on the site of the fair
Police maintained a visible presence at the event on Sunday following several violent outbursts between rival families
A campervan and horse transport vehicle appear to get stuck in the mud while attempting to leave the site Sunday
As travellers left the Appleby site, police warned roads will be heavily congested around the town on Monday
Police said that at around 7am on Sunday, officers were told of a woman on Bridge Street, in the vicinity of St Lawrence's Church, who was in distress and may have been a victim of a sexual assault in a field on the outskirts of the town.
Superintendent Matt Kennerley, Gold Commander for the police operation surrounding the fair, said: 'Any suggestion of a sexual offence having taken place is taken extremely seriously, which is why the grounds of the church, where the woman was originally located, were closed off for much of yesterday , allowing officers to carry out extensive enquiries.'
Detectives from the North Crime and Safeguarding Team are engaging with the woman to establish full details of the incident and provide support.
It came after violence put a dampener on the otherwise celebratory return of the fair, which celebrates the traveller community's cultural heritage, after it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic last year.
One 61-year-old local man was beaten up by a group of men while the fighting between rival families on Friday and Saturday saw one local describe the scene as something out of Dodge City. At least four men have since been charged.
Cumbria Police announced they were sending in armed police teams after a tip-off that a simmering feud between two travelling families was on the point of escalating into serious violence.
Two girl friends dressed in their summer best as the Appleby Horse Fair got underway over the weekend
One guest donned pearl encrusted crucifix earrings paired with a tight crop top and animal print trousers, with a full make-up look including very voluptuous eyelashes
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Cumbria Police had to implement an 'immediate' Section 60 order when violence erupted, which provided extra stop and search powers
Armed officers were sent to the festival in Cumbria after officers got information about groups intending to cause serious violence as part of on-going feuds
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Travellers brawl at Appleby Horse Fair as police send armed officers to tackle 'serious violence' after receiving a tip that rival groups were planning to settle feuds
It came after they received information that people were travelling to the fair with the intention of causing serious violence and disorder.
Superintendent Kennerley said at the time: 'This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
'Policing resources will be increased in key areas and at key times.'
Police also invoked section 60 powers, allowing them to stop and search anyone they deemed suspicious.
Supt Kennerley added: 'These powers will help our officers to keep people safe.
'However, I also urge anyone with information about potential disorder or any other type of criminality to contact the police.
'Anyone who is seeking to come to the Fair to act violently is no friend to those of us – including Appleby people and the Gypsy and Traveller people - who wish for the Horse Fair to be an enjoyable and safe environment for all.'
Locals were also sickened to discover the area around a scout hut in Appleby was used as a makeshift toilet.
Soiled clothing and toilet paper were strewn around the hut as a leader of the scouting movement in the town called for volunteers to help with the clean up.
One local said: 'This weekend says everything about why people in this town want to the fair stopped for good.
'We had a brief reprieve last year but this time it's returned to business as usual and it's been appalling.'
Attendees are still leaving the town today, having arrived on Thursday.
Robert Docherty, Assistant Director Communities at Eden District Council, said Monday: 'For a variety of reasons this has been a difficult and challenging fair for everyone involved, not least because of the understandable concerns people continue to have regarding Coronavirus.
'Whilst we understood the demands from some quarters for people to be stopped from coming to Appleby this summer, the reality was that no such powers existed to do so.
'As such, the Multi-Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group took the difficult decision earlier in the year to point the Gypsy and Traveller community to a date late in the summer for which agencies could prepare as best as possible and people could have the greatest opportunity to get vaccinated.'
Smiling in the sunshine, one traveller opted for an elaborate patterned dress paired with a pair of oversized black sunglasses, featuring a pearl encrusted chain, and a diamante bracelet
Crowds of women donning various designer goods strutted their stuff through the streets of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria for the annual gathering on Saturday afternoon
A young girl poses with her pet dog Pompom at the Appleby Horse Fair on Sunday
Attendees to the Appleyby Horse Fair cool off in the river on horseback in Cumbria on Thursday
A young lad leads his horse by its rein while others splash about on horseback in the River Eden Thursday
A bow top wagon is driven through the centre of town on the first day of the Appleby Horse Fair
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A policeman stands guard as horses and ponies gather in the streets of Appleby for the first day of the Appleby Horse Fair Thursday
Not their first rodeo: Group of young friends walk their horses with ease in the River Eden at the Appleby Horse Fair
Young woman embraces the cold as she goes waist deep while riding her white horse in the River Eden
He added: 'There are certainly lessons to be learnt this year. And while some if the issues have been exacerbated by the fair taking place later in the summer, when other events elsewhere in the country have squeezed access to key resources, we are keen to listen and to build.
'One of the primary complaints we saw this weekend was a lack of toilet facilities. Combined with difficulties regarding access to public house facilities, the result was a rise in street urination.
'Portable toilets have been extremely scarce as people look to host events across the country. However, we are keen to ensure this is a matter which is prioritised early for 2022 to ensure as much is done as possible to prevent this from being an issue next summer.'
The number of people arrested for fair-related alleged offending was at its highest level since 2014.
However, this was primarily as a result of the seven arrests made following Disorder on The Sands on Friday.
The other arrests included alleged offending including disqualified driving, breaching a dispersal order, breach of the peace and public order offences.
Superintendent Kennerley added today : 'I'd like to thank people for their patience and understanding during the 2021 fair.
'There were periods during the weekend when it appeared there were significant numbers of people who were travelling to the area intent on causing trouble rather than enjoy a holiday.
'This is unacceptable for the police, for the local residents and for the majority of the Gypsy and Traveller community who wish for the fair to be violence-free – which is why we took the decision on Saturday to put in place a Section 60 order and deploy additional armed officers.
'Finally, another word of warning for people driving in and around Appleby today and in the coming days. Please take extra care as there is likely to be slow-moving traffic in the area. Let's make sure everyone reaches their destination safely.'
The fair is billed as the biggest traditional Gypsy Fair in Europe.
Around 10,000 travellers are expected to have attended this year's event, where they traditionally come to buy and sell horses.
It also offers an opportunity for the traveller community to come together to celebrate their heritage and culture.
The fair is usually held in early June outside the town of Appleby, in Cumbria, and attracts around 1,000 caravans, hundreds of horse-drawn vehicles, and up to 40,000 visitors.