Police have beefed up their powers for 24 hours
A GMP Tactical Aid Unit van in Clarksfield, Oldham, overnight following an evening of carnage(Image: Facebook: Mcroutlaws)
Officers have been issued extra powers to stop and search people in Oldham after a night of chaos hit the town.
Two drivers chased each other, ending with one crashing into a tree, before men carrying machetes launched an attack on Thursday evening (July 3).
Hours later, officers attended a disturbance in the street ‘involving weapons’, and found more than 100 people had gathered.
The carnage has led to Greater Manchester Police issuing a Section 60 order for large parts of Oldham – including Glodwick, Clarksfield and Moorhey.
GMP says it was first called out to reports of two SUVs chasing each other on Lee Street at around 6.05pm.
After one of the vehicles crashed into a tree, a group of males with machetes tried to attack the driver.
A police helicopter seen above the area last night(Image: Facebook: Mcroutlaws)
At around 10.20pm, officers were then called to reports of a large disturbance involving at least 10 males with various weapons.
Police arrived to discover more than 100 people in the street with pockets of disorder still in the area, which dispersed following officers’ attendance.
Moments later, police were called out to reports of a man being attacked on Roundthorn Road, at around 10.35pm.
On arrival at the scene, officers discovered a smashed taxi and a man in his 20s who had suffered minor injuries.
Two men in their 20s and one man in his 50s have all been arrested on suspicion of affray.
They remain in custody for questioning this afternoon, while enquiries remain ongoing.
GMP issued a Section 60 order under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, which grants officers extended powers to stop and search individuals.
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The 24-hour order will run until 2.59am tomorrow morning (Saturday).
Superintendent Cara Charlesworth, from GMP’s Oldham division, said: “Our number one priority, as always, is keeping the community in Oldham safe, and I believe this Section 60 authority is proportionate and necessary following a number of incidents overnight.
“This authority enables officers to utilise extra powers to stop-search individuals and hopefully ensure some potentially dangerous weapons that we have been aware of overnight, are taken off the streets.
“We have made arrests, seized vehicles that are believed to be involved in these incidents, CCTV enquires are ongoing and arrest attempts for outstanding suspects are being made.
“I would like to reassure the public that we are putting extra resources into the area to provide reassurance, which will continue into this evening and throughout the weekend.
“If you see any of our officers out on patrol, please speak to us, we are looking for any information that would assist us with our enquiries and your support is vital.”
The area covered by the S60 order(Image: GMP)
The Section 60 order covers the area in the map pictured above, including the following locations:
- Junction of Constantine Street with Greenacres Road
- Greenacres Road to A62 / Oldham Way
- Oldham Way to Park Road
- Park Road to junction with King’s Road
- King’s Road via the outer border of Snipe Clough Nature Reserve
- Snipe Clough Nature Reserve to Dean Terrance junction with Alt Lane
- Alt Lane to Abbey Hills Road junction with Holts Lane
- Holts Lane to Sunny Bank
- Sunny Bank to Thomas Street junction with High Street
- High Street to Lees Road junction with Wellyhole Street
- Wellyhole Street to junction of Constantine Street with Greenacres Road
Images from the scene showed a large police presence in the area at around 11pm, including a police helicopter, while Tactical Aid Unit officers carried out a raid at around 3am this morning as the Section 60 order was first issued.
Anyone with information about last night’s incidents in Oldham is asked to call 0161 856 8994 or 101, or report it online to GMP, quoting log 330 of July 4, 2025.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency situation, dial 999.