Gloucester city centre is under a strict dispersal order this bank holiday weekend following multiple reports of drunken brawls and anti-social behaviour. The police have been granted special powers to manage the unrest and ensure public safety.
Effective from 2pm Friday, May 22 until 2pm Sunday, May 24, the Section 34 dispersal order allows officers to direct individuals to leave the designated area for up to 48 hours if their conduct risks alarming or intimidating people. The order covers a wide area from Black Dog Way/Gouda Way in the north to St Ann Way/Trier Way in the south, and stretches east to Trier Way and west to Llanthony Road/Castle Meads Way.
This decision follows multiple incidents involving aggressive behaviour, public intoxication, shouting abuse, and intimidation reported by residents and visitors around the city centre. Gloucester Neighbourhood Policing Team’s Inspector James O’Neill emphasized the commitment to maintaining a safe environment: “We want people to enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend without anti-social behaviour affecting their safety or well-being. We will not tolerate actions that cause fear, damage, or disruption in our community.”
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Additional police patrols will be deployed throughout the weekend to enforce the dispersal order and take action against anyone who violates it. The move aims to restore calm and protect the community from further disturbances.