Police 'feed teenage yobs KFC meals' after they refuse to come down from roof for two days

Hooded youths brought chaos to town after climbing onto businesses

Hurled slates, stones and glass onto riot police on the street below

Police negotiators, relatives and a solicitor failed to talk them down

Onlookers blast soft-handed tactics after they are given fast food

Solicitor: 'The police should have had them down off the roof last night not feeding them KFCs and milkshakes'

They eventually gave themselves up after nearly 30-hour stand-off



Riot police were blasted for their soft-handed approach today after feeding fast food to two yobs during a rooftop siege which brought chaos to a town centre.

Parts of Wrexham in north Wales were closed off for two days after the teenagers refused to come down from the top of a row of businesses.

Police officers who swarmed to the area were forced to wear hard hats and carry shields as the youths hurled slates, stones and glass onto the street below.

But scores of locals and business owners reacted with disbelief when the hooded yobs were provided with fast food, said to be KFC, instead of being apprehended.



Riot in Wrexham: Armed police watch on as two yobs bring chaos to the town centre after refusing to get down off the roof of a row of businesses

Danger zone: Police were forced to wear hard hats and shields after being pelted with slates, stones and glass

David Rudd, one of the directors at Walker Smith and Way Solicitors, which was closed down, told The Daily Post: 'The police should have had them down off the roof last night not feeding them KFCs and milkshakes. There appears to be no active plan.

'They’re causing immense disruption to us and our clients. The amount of damage is appalling.'

An angry onlooker, who did not wish to be named, added: 'What a waste of taxpayers' money. They’re having a right laugh at all the attention they’re getting.'

The incident also caused a flurry of outrage on Twitter.

Mel Bower said: 'The guys in Wrexham have been on the roof for 30 hours, caused so much trouble, but still got a free KFC. Hmmmm that's logical'.

Siege: One of the two youths rests on a chimney after allegedly hurling slates at the police

'No active plan': Onlookers and business owners reacted with disbelief when the hooded yobs were provided with fast food, said to be KFC, on two occasions instead of being apprehended

Emily Birch tweeted: 'Baffled as to why @wrexham police gave the roof guys KFC. What the hell!? Do they not want them to come down then?'

The stand-off began at around midday yesterday when the men climbed onto the roof of buildings in Chester Street.

Police closed businesses and the library and threw up a cordon around the scene as they made vain attempts to talk the offenders down.

Family members of the two youths – one of whom was allegedly carrying a saw – and a solicitor are also understood to have tried to convince them to come down without success.

As the siege continued into the night, residents reported seeing a light being shone towards the roof and a police helicopter hovering overhead.

Disbelief: Twitter users reacted angrily to claims the youth were provided with KFC meals during the stand-off

At one point, it is believed the two youths went to sleep close to the warm air vent, according to wrexham.com.

Officers were again pelted with debris as they attempted to enter surrounding buildings to speak to the teenagers on the second day.



The youths eventually gave themselves up at 4.50pm today. It is not known why they staged the demonstration.



A spokesman for North Wales Police confirmed the youths were given food last night, but refused to reveal further details.

He added: 'The deployment of officers or any other provisions is in line with a carefully considered strategy designed to bring about a safe resolution.'

'Soft touch': Police said the youths were provided with fast food, said to be KFC, 'in line with a carefully considered strategy designed to bring about a safe resolution' (file images)



Two teenagers, aged 18 and 19, were held on suspicion of a number of offences including public order and have been taken into custody at Wrexham police station.

Superintendant Sacha Hatchett, told MailOnline: 'North Wales Police would like to thank the public, residents and local businesses for their co-operation and patience during in this incident.

'We appreciate that there was disruption in Chester St. However, during the course of the incident the safety of all involved was our prime concern.

'This was an irresponsible as well as a criminal act which involved an incremental response and our officers had to be dressed in specialist public order uniforms to deal with it.

'While no member of the public was harmed, a police officer was struck by debris thrown by the offenders and she received minor injuries.