Police sorry for delay getting to casino 'chaos'

Eight machines were damaged as chairs were thrown around, witnesses said

A police force has apologised for a delay in responding to an attack at a casino during which eight slot machines were smashed.

Witness Jamali Asad, 29, said there was "chaos" at Admiral Casino on Newport Road, Middlesbrough, on Sunday evening when chairs were thrown by four gamblers who had lost money.

Staff used a panic button to try to contact police, but witnesses said officers did not arrive until the attack had been over for more than an hour.

Temporary Ch Supt Martin Hopps, of Cleveland Police, said the force was "committed to responding as efficiently and effectively as possible" but there were times it did not "get it right".

Mr Asad said: "They just grabbed chairs and started smashing machines up because they lost a lot of money.

"It was horrifying, there were two older people using the machines too and they got glass in their eyes."

He said other customers were "fearing for their lives" and hurried to leave as chairs were thrown around.

He added: "There's no point in a panic button if nobody comes."

'Take it seriously'

Admiral Casino has been approached for a comment.

Ch Supt Hopps said the force was "constantly reviewing" its call handling and response times to ensure it was delivering the best possible service.

"We fully understand that when people reach out to us, they are often in distress and need timely support," he said.

"We also recognise that there are times when we don't get it right. When that happens, we take it seriously."