Dispersal order brought in over ‘pre-arranged fights’
DISPERSAL orders were introduced in two town centres as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
The emergency powers were in place in Rawtenstall and Burnley town centres last Thursday night following reports of ‘pre-arranged fights’ in both areas.
Officers said they involved a ‘significant number of young people’ and that Section 34 orders were needed to ‘keep the public safe’.
They allowed police to remove people from the area, arrest them if they returned and gave them the power to ‘seize any item used in the commission of anti-social behaviour’.
Rossendale Police said they were ‘doing everything in our power to stop’ a pre-arranged fight happening in Rawtenstall and issued a dispersal order until 11pm on Thursday night.
In a statement on Facebook at the time, a force spokesperson said: “We have received information to suggest that there are plans for a pre-arranged fight involving a significant number of young people in Rawtenstall town centre this evening.
“We are doing everything in our power to stop that from happening and keep the public safe.
“With that in mind, a Section 34 dispersal order has been put in place to prevent disorder and allow other members of the community to enjoy the town centre without any issue. “The order runs until 11pm tonight. “The area covered by the order is shown in the map and incorporates all of Rawtenstall town centre bound by New Church road to the north and Bocholt Way to the south including the areas to the side of Bocholt way.
“The area also includes Tesco, Asda and the retail park to the west of Rawtenstall town centre.”
A dispersal order was issued for Burnley town centre for the second night in a row. Last Thursday officers involved both Section 60 stop and search powers and a Section 34 dispersal order following reports of a ‘pre-arranged fight’ due to take place in the area between teenagers.
A statement on the Burnley and Padiham Police Facebook page read: “Information has been received that there will be a pre-arranged fight in Burnley town centre.
“There have been large gatherings of youths in the town centre for the past two evenings however the fight has yet to take place.
“There have been flare ups of antisocial behaviour in the town centre as a result and this is having a significant impact on members of the public who are in the town centre for legitimate reasons.
“As such a Section 34 Dispersal Order has been authorised to prevent disorder and allow other members of the community to enjoy the town centre without any issue.
“The order will remain in place between 3pm and 11pm today.
“The community are very upset by the recent increase in anti-socialbehaviour and this has caused disruption to the use of the town centre by other members of the public.
“The rights of the youths to assemble must be balanced against the rights of the community to enjoy their local area with their families.
“As such we have reviewed Articles 8, 10 and 11 of the Human Rights Act and believe that despite the Section 34 preventing the young people from gathering, it will enable the wider community to enjoy their rights.
“The area covered by the order is shown in the map and incorporates all of Burnley town centre as bound by Grimshaw Street, Hargreaves Street, Hammerton Street, Curzon Street, Active Way, Church Street and Centenary Way.”
Lancashire Constabulary have confirmed with the Free Press that the ‘prearranged fights’ in both areas were linked.
Initially, officers believed there was a pre-planned fight in Burnley but then they received new information it was going take place in Rawtenstall.
Police have also confirmed that no incidents had occurred.
‘There have been large gatherings of youths in the town centre for the past two evenings however the fight has yet to take place’