Police slammed for 'stopping children going to Christmas market'

by · Mail Online

Greater Manchester Police have been slammed for reportedly herding children back onto trains and preventing them from going to the city's Christmas markets. 

Videos shared on social media show dozens of uniformed police officers escorting the teenagers through the train station on Saturday afternoon. 

The young people could then be seen protesting with police as they were told to get onto waiting trains.  

It came after a dispersal order was put in place across Manchester city centre following reports of gangs of youths gathering to cause trouble. 

The Section 34 dispersal notice, which was signed off at 12.13pm, remains in place for 48 hours and gives police extra powers to tell people to leave the city. 

The clips have caused outrage with people accusing police of 'herding' and 'manhandling' the young people. 

One person posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'My sister and family took some younger children to Manchester for the Christmas holiday markets to get some presents and have an enjoyable day out.

'But the police stopped them and forced them back on the train because they didn't like how they looked, an absolute disgrace.'

Videos shared on social media show dozens of uniformed police officers escorting the teenagers through the train station on Saturday afternoon
The young people could then be seen protesting with police as they were told to get onto waiting trains
Pictured: The dispersal order issued by Greater Manchester Police across the city centre 

Another added: 'This is how young teenagers & children are treated by aggressive Manchester Police, denied freedom of movement, herded, manhandled, threatened with arrest & pushed on trains out of the station.. beyond disgusting!'

A third said: 'Anti social behaviour??? You're meeting them at the train station and forcing them onto any train that's available. 

'They have had no time to be anti social.....'

Police enforcing the section 34 dispersal notice around Exchange Square this afternoon said they arrested a man on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

Superintendent, Phil Spurgeon within GMP's specialist operations unit said: 'We are monitoring and managing a significant increase in footfall across Manchester City Centre and throughout our districts with groups of youth gathering together and causing disturbances.

'I have authorised a dispersal order under S34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act across all Greater Manchester. 

Videos shared on social media show dozens of uniformed police officers escorting the teenagers through the train station on Saturday afternoon
The young people could then be seen protesting with police as they were told to get onto waiting trains

'This is in response to a rising number of reports and in the interest of protecting the public from excessive anti-social behaviour, disorder, and criminality over the weekend.

'This order should help visitors travel across GM with ease and enable residents to go about their daily activities.

'There will be an increase in police presence with neighbourhood officers deployed. If you have any concerns, please do approach them, they are there to keep you safe.

'If you see anything suspicious report it to police on 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.'

MailOnline has contacted Greater Manchester Police for comment.