Let’s have no repeat of last weekend, says commander
POLICE URGE DRINKERS TO BE ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOUR AFTER SATURDAY EXCESSES
PEOPLE have been urged to drink sensibly when they hit the pubs this weekend – seven days after police had to deal with sustained drunken disorder in one town centre and alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour in other areas.
Police were called to a number of 999 emergencies last weekend as pubs and restaurants in the county were allowed to reopen, while those in the city remained in coronavirus lockdown.
Earlier, police had suggested the level of policing required in the city and county would be similar to a typical New Year’s Eve.
Subsequently, the Leicester Mercury reported a number of incidents, including officers closing down a house party in South Wigston and the use of emergency dispersal powers in response to violence in the centre of Market Harborough.
Yesterday, the officer in charge of policing those areas called on the minority of people who had caused trouble last week to be more sensible this time round.
Inspector Siobhan Gorman, policing commander for Harborough and Wigston, said: “Last weekend was very busy and the majority of people did have a good and safe night out in the area.
“Sadly, though, we did have to authorise a dispersal order later on in the evening in the town centre following some incidents of low-level public disorder.”
The order gave officers the power to order troublemakers to leave the area for 24 hours.
It remained in place until the next morning but can be reinstated at short notice on the authority of a senior officer.
Insp Gorman said most people left the town centre peacefully, but a number of pubs decided to close early.
She said: “Our top priority will always be to keep our communities safe and we will take action when required.
“We simply want to ensure that people who are coming out into the area – or anywhere else across Leicestershire and Rutland – are looking after themselves, are drinking responsibly, socialising safely and having an enjoyable time out.
“Please make sure you plan your night, stay with your friends and that you have plans in place to get home safely.
“In return, my team, who have continued to work tirelessly throughout the whole lockdown period, will be out in the area once again, working with you to keep you and our communities safe and protected.
“We look forward to seeing you and do hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend.”
Across the city and county last weekend, officers issued a total of 21 £100 fines to people they found breaching the coronavirus lockdown regulations in some way.
In total, Leicestershire officers have issued 465 such fines since forces were granted enforcement powers at the beginning of the crisis.
The force said it said it received a higher than usual number of contacts from the public – including 478 calls on the 999 system on Saturday and 830 on Sunday.
Across both days it received a total of more than 1,800 calls to the non-emergency 101 line. ‘PEOPLE’S SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY’: Inspector Siobhan Gorman, front, right