Police have warned visitors to the north-east’s biggest agricultural show to behave responsibly after the marquee dance at a similar event was marred by trouble earlier this month.
The 153rd Turriff Show kicks off tonight with the annual dance before thousands of traders and visitors from across Scotland descend on The Haughs on Sunday for the main agricultural event.
Police officers will be patrolling both the marquee dance and the main show days to ensure public safety. It comes just weeks after trouble broke out at the annual Echt Show.
Last night Inspector Graeme Penny said: “The Turriff Show attracts a large number of visitors each year, especially on the Sunday, and also for the marquee dance.
“I would encourage everyone who attends the event to enjoy the show and dance but to do so responsibly. The marquee dance at the recent Echt Show resulted in six people being charged in relation to incidents and we obviously want this dance at Turriff to be a success and remembered for the right reasons.”
He said “alcohol-fuelled violence” and other antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated and offenders will be dealt with “robustly”.
“Depending on the circumstances this could result in spending the weekend in a police cell and not at the show,” Insp Penny added.
Organisers expect more than 25,000 people to visit the town over the weekend and are hopeful of good weather.
