Officers were called to reports of ‘anti-social behaviour’ at Britain First’s bus
17:01, 28 Sep 2025Updated 17:24, 28 Sep 2025
Police at the scene in Altrincham(Image: Britain First)
Leaders of a far-right political party who claimed they were ‘detained’ by police for three hours were handed a warning over a foul-mouthed poster.
A Britain First ‘battle bus’ which arrived in Altrincham contained a poster which called Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer a ‘w*****’. Greater Manchester Police said they received calls yesterday afternoon (Saturday September 27) to reports of ‘anti-social behaviour’.
The force said that officers spoke with two occupants of the vehicle, and that they were handed a ‘section 59’ warning.
Section 59 of the Police Reform Act gives officers the power to issue warnings or seize vehicles which are ‘causing, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public’.
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The force said that the vehicle left the area shortly after. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “At around 2pm on Saturday 27 September 2025, we received calls from members of the public in relation due to ongoing anti-social in Altrincham, Trafford.
“We attended the scene and engaged with the two occupants of a vehicle who were alleged to be causing the anti-social behaviour.
“Officers conducted enquiries with the individuals and once we had completed our investigations, the occupants of the vehicle were handed a Section 59 warning and subsequently left the area.”
Britain First said that ‘two police cars and a riot van swooped on our Battle Bus, detaining our leaders and activists for around three hours’.
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A statement added they claimed the officers said the group was a ‘proscribed’ terrorist organisation. Britain First is not a proscribed terrorist organisation, and it is understood that the responding officers have been spoken to over the misidentification.