Police say such behaviour ‘will not be tolerated’
Police in Bolton on Saturday night(Image: Phil Taylor)
Reports of people being attacked by a large group of youths who gathered in Bolton town centre led to officers being granted increased powers, it has been confirmed.
Around 60 people gathered in and around the Market Place area, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said last night.
A large number of police, including riot-trained Tactical Aid Unit officers, were seen parked outside the McDonald’s restaurant on Knowsley Street, with officers seen going in and out.
The force said they received a ‘number of reports of anti-social behaviour and criminality’ linked to the group.
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This led them to putting a dispersal order in place, covering the whole town centre, until 2am in the early hours of this morning (Sunday).
Such orders, made under Section 34 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 allow officers to order people to leave a defined area if they believe they are, or are likely to be, involved in anti-social behaviour.
A large number of officers responded following reports of people being attacked(Image: Phil Taylor)
People breaching such an order can then be arrested.
GMP have now given more details about what exactly what prompted the response.
A force spokesperson said this morning (Sunday) that they received reports that a ‘big group of youths were gathering in the town centre with reports that within the group there were assaults going on.’
Officers attended and two 16 year-old boys were arrested – one on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) and one on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and violent disorder – the spokesperson said.
Both remain under investigation.
The arrests were linked to the original incident. After police attended and put the dispersal order in place, the group dispersed and no further arrests were made, the spokesperson added.
Inspector Nick White from GMP’s Bolton Response unit said last night: “The reported behaviour of those involved, putting members of the public at risk, will not be tolerated.
“Bolton should be a safe place for all those who wish to visit to make use of facilities within the Town Centre.
“You can expect to see an increased visible presence, and anyone with concerns should speak to officers on the ground.”