Dispersal orders will be in place in four separate areas of Wigan and Leigh this weekend, due to a planned car meet in the borough.
Last month, Wigan was one of four Greater Manchester boroughs in which a huge car cruise event took place, along with Stockport, Trafford and Salford. On that occasion, around 30 cars met on Westwood Way, Wigan, and there were more than 350 vehicles involved in the event in total, GMP said.
Officers have now been authorised to use dispersal powers between 12 noon on Sunday November 20 and 5am on Monday November 21. Drivers caught driving dangerously, carelessly, or in an 'anti-social manner' will be arrested, GMP's Leigh, Atherton, and Hindley neighbourhood team confirmed. A force spokesman also stated that cars will be seized using powers under the Police Reform Act 2002.
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The dispersal orders will be in place in the following areas:
- Leigh - the area bounded by Atherleigh Way, Twist Lane, Wigan Road, Nel Pan Lane, Westleigh Lane, Kirkhall Lane, Leigh Road, Marketplace, King Street, Spinning Jenny Way, Henry Street, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and St Helens Road
- Hindley - the area bounded by Wigan Road, Darby Lane and Market Street
- Wigan - the area bounded by Stadium Way, Frith Street, Ormskirk Road, Robin Park Road and Scot Lane
- Wigan - Westwood Way from its junction with Warrington Road to its junction with Chapel Lane
A post on the GMP Leigh, Atherton and Hindley Facebook page reads: "We are aware of a planned car meet due to take place within Wigan Borough on Sunday 20th November 2022. Consequently, in order to prevent anti-social behaviour and reduce the risk to members of the community, dispersal powers have been authorised for specific locations in Wigan, Hindley and Leigh from 12pm (noon) on Sunday 20th November 2022 until 5am on Monday 21st November 2022.
"A policing operation will be in place involving district police officers and teams from our Specialist Operations branch. We will take positive action against any individual driving dangerously or carelessly and in an anti-social manner.
"In addition to prosecution we will seize vehicles using our powers under the Police Reform Act 2002 and take action after the event if necessary, using evidence from ANPR and CCTV cameras. This action is being taken due to recent incidents involving vehicles driven dangerously at similar events in the borough, in addition to significant concerns raised about this issue by the local community and the fact that there have been several incidents in the North West where spectators have tragically been killed at these events."
If you know of any proposed car cruise events, then Greater Manchester Police can be contacted via gmp.police.uk or 101. In an emergency always dial 999. Information about crime can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers – on 0800 555 111.
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