UK town centre chaos as police swarm scene following ‘trouble involving 60 people’ | UK | News
Police raided Bolton town center on the evening of Saturday, November 15, following reports of trouble involving up to 60 people. Police, including riot-trained Tactical Assistance Unit officers and paramedics, were photographed gathering near the McDonald’s fast food restaurant on Knowsley Street in the city centre.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) subsequently imposed a so-called dispersal order on an area of the town, giving officers the power to order people suspected of being involved in disorder to leave the area or face arrest. The Section 34 order will remain in force until 2am on Sunday. GMP said in a statement that the action was taken following what it described as “a number of reports of anti-social behavior and crime involving a group of up to 60 people in and around the Marketplace area”.
The police statement continued: “The order, which is in force until 2am tomorrow morning (Sunday, November 16), will allow us to address these issues with an emphasis on the safety of the wider public in this area.”
Accordingly Manchester Evening NewsInspector Nick White, of GMP’s Bolton division, said: “The reported behavior of individuals who put the public at risk will not be tolerated.
“Bolton should be a safe place for those wishing to visit to enjoy the amenities of the town centre. You can expect to see an increased visible presence and anyone with concerns should speak to officers on site.”
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, North West England. It is located between Manchester and Blackburn, at the foot of the West Pennine Moors.
