Dispersal order in force across Manchester city centre amid reports of youths 'gathering to cause trouble'

A dispersal order has been ordered across Manchester city centre following reports of gangs of youths gathering to cause trouble.

The order, signed by a senior police officer at 12.13pm today (Saturday, November 23), gives Greater Manchester Police extra powers to order people to leave the city and lock them up if they refuse.

The so-called 'section 34' order covers the next 48 hours and police say it is to prevent. Videos circulating on Facebook shows dozens of officers from GMP ordering youths into trains out of the city centre. This afternoon officers enforcing the order around Exchange Square arrested a man on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

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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. 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."