Oxford City Council, Thames Valley Police and GRA Ltd will have to produce results to ensure there is no repeat of the large scale brawling that took place after a ‘bashment party’ at Oxford Greyhound Stadium.

According to some witnesses, more than 200 people were involved in “what looked like a fullscale riot” with sticks and bricks being used outside the stadium exit in Sandy Lane in the early hours of Sunday.

These parties have been held monthly at the stadium and neighbours have told us there have been increasing problems and that they have complained to Oxford City Council – although there’s been nothing on the scale of four days ago.

It is a disgrace that the trouble blighting the lives of local residents has been allowed to get so totally out of hand.

GRA Ltd, the stadium owner and licensee which is allowing an outside promoter to stage the events, claims it cannot be held responsible for what happens outside the stadium gates.

It cannot be held totally responsible, no, but it cannot make money off a licensed event and yet wash its hands completely of anything occurring a few metres from its boundary that is obviously linked.

And the council and police — who rather surprisingly crowed about arriving on the scene within nine minutes yet did not see fit to arrest anyone — must use all the powers and resources at their disposal to ensure these music parties are held without compromising the safety of those attending and those living nearby.