Armed police respond to knife-armed gang call
JOEY Barton has pleaded not guilty on a charge of assault by beating after a woman suffered a head injury.
The former Premier League footballer appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court in south-west London on Monday morning via video link.
The charge against Barton, 38, of Widnes, relates to an incident at a residential property in Kew, southwest London, on June 2, in which a woman suffered a head injury.
Bristol Rovers manager Barton spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
He wore a T-shirt and shorts during the hearing.
Barton was released on unconditional bail until his trial at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on December 16.
FIREARMS officers swooped on reports of a gang of men who may have been armed with knives having a row in Runcorn.
Police were called to Halton Lodge Avenue in connection with the alleged “dispute” at around 2pm on Tuesday.
The search was unable to “find any trace” of the group.
A Cheshire and North Wales Armed Policing Alliance BMW and two dog units were parked up on nearby Pear Tree Avenue with a patrol car on Halton Lodge Avenue when reporters from our sister paper the Liverpool
ECHO visited the scene at around 2.30pm and stumbled by chance on the police vehicles while responding to unrelated reports of flooding in the neighbourhood.
The wider area has now been subjected to a dispersal order to run for 48 hours in a bid to prevent any more trouble..
It covers a swathe of land bordered by Boston Avenue, the Central Expressway, Heath Road and the railway land alongside Clifton Road.
A Cheshire Police spokesman said: “At around 2pm on Tuesday, July 27, police were called to reports of a dispute between four men, possibly armed with knives, on Halton Lodge Avenue, in Runcorn.
“Local officers, supported by the armed policing alliance and police dogs, attended the scene and conducted a search of the area but were unable to find any trace of the men.
“In response to the incident a dispersal order has been put in place under Section 34 of the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
“The purpose of the order is to deter anyone from acting in an antisocial manner or likely to, from returning to a specific area for up to 24 hours, and officers and PCSOs (police community support officers) will be using those powers to prevent any disorder.
“The order, which will remain in place for 48 hours, covers the area of Boston Avenue, A533, the railway line adjacent to Clifton Road and Heath Road where there will be an increased police presence.
“Anyone with any information in relation to the incident on Halton Lodge Avenue is asked to call Cheshire police on 101 quoting IML 1047694.”