Manchester university chiefs launch investigation into drunken naked student incidents on P&O ferry

By Dean Wilkins

Manchester university chiefs are investigating a ferry company’s refusal to bring home 200 students after drunken brawls caused havoc on board.

Travel company P&O abandoned students from The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, among others from different universities, in France after travelling from Dover on April 1.

A drunken mass brawl broke out between students, after many boarded the ship already intoxicated, and left young families shocked after they trashed the carrier while others exposed themselves.

A spokesman for The University of Manchester said: "We are in dialogue with P&O and we have offered to assist them with identifying anyone from the university involved in criminal activity."

Manchester Metropolitan University said it was also supporting P&O and had also started its own investigation into the incident.

Students may face disciplinary action if they are found to be involved in any unacceptable behaviour following the outcome of investigations.

P&O ferries said: "P&O ferries can confirm that around 200 students from the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University caused disruption on an early morning sailing of its ship the Spirit of France on Sunday April 1.

"The company deplores the behaviour of this group of students, who were clearly drunk before they boarded the ship and whose actions on board were wholly unacceptable.

"P&O ferries has contacted both universities to advise that it will not be transporting these groups on their homeward voyage and to seek assurances that their behaviour is addressed."

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