Holylands

I caught a glimpse of the "battle of the holylands" last night on someones TV. Someone was telling me that their son was there and everything was quite quiet until the police started to go done the street and push everyone back into the wee houses. he said suddenly you were in some strangers house their were 27 in the terraced house he got put into. Were they using "troubles" tactics on student revelry? Not sure. Anyone any thoughts?