Two boys have been arrested on suspicion of carrying knives at a large gathering on Hove Lawns.
The boys, aged 15 and 16, were arrested last night during the gathering of more than 200 GCSE school leavers.
At 8pm, a 15-year-old boy from Hove was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife or bladed article in public.
Shortly after, a 16-year-old boy also from Hove was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife or bladed article in public and possession of a class B drug.
Both boys remain in custody.
Sussex Police were at Hove Lawns to monitor the gathering and respond to any reports of antisocial behaviour.
One bystander said some officers were heckled and “got into a defensive formation" and one officer was holding a cannister of pepper spray.
Chaos on Hove Lawns yesterday evening as teenagers celebrate the end of their GCSE exams
— Andrew Gardner (@andrewgardnr) June 17, 2023
🗞️ More in @brightonargus later pic.twitter.com/MbzdN7AEp1
One person told The Argus: “There are so many people with more and more arriving all the time.
“There were are also a load of police here parked in their cars surrounding the group from all sides.
"I saw them arresting some of the children earlier but it all seems to have calmed down a bit now."
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