Police have tonight been given increased powers to order people out of part of Bury town centre - including a busy retail park - after fighting broke out.

Under the dispersal order police can direct any person to leave the area and stop them from returning until 12.25am on October 21.

The decision has been made, say officers,  in order to reduce the likelihood of  harassment, alarm or distress caused to members of the public.

Bury Times:

This follows several reports of fighting between 15 males and recent incidents of disorder in the area and a number of youths seen causing disorder and running in the town centre.

Areas included in the dispersal order are Peel Way, Derby Way and Jubilee Way, encompassing Woodfields Retail Park.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Helen Atherton, an Inspector of Police in Greater Manchester Police authorises, in the following locality: Bury Town Centre - namely the area covered by Peel Way, Derby Way and Jubilee Way, encompassing Woodfields Retail Park a constable and/or PCSO in uniform to direct any person who is in a public place in that locality –

“(a) to leave the locality (or part of the locality), and,

“(b) not to return to the locality (or part of the locality) for the period specified.

“The period specified in (b) above is from 13:25hrs on 20/10/22. to 00:25hrs on 21/10/22 The specified period does not exceed 48 hours.

“I am giving this authorisation because I am satisfied on reasonable grounds that the use of this power in that locality for the specified period may be necessary for the purpose of removing or reducing the likelihood of –

“(a) members of the public in the locality being harassed, alarmed or distressed, or

“(b) the occurrence in the locality of crime or disorder, and more particularly reports from members of the public reporting fighting between 15 males. There have been recent incidents of disorder in the area, officers have attended, and a number of youths have been seen causing disorder and running in the town centre.

“Dispersal authorisation is necessary in order to prevent harassment, alarm and distress being caused to the public and public order offences or assaults.

“In deciding whether to give this authorisation I have given particular regard to the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly set out in Articles 10 and 11 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights which are incorporated into of the Human Rights Act 1998.”