Two people have been arrested after police officers were 'punched in the face, kicked, spat at and bitten'.
The shocking incident happened after officers confronted a group of youths at Times Retail Park in Heywood today (Sunday). The youngsters had reportedly been 'causing issues for customers and children'.
After challenging the group, officers were met with hostility. Two officers were punched in the face, kicked, spat at and bitten, Greater Manchester Police said.
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Two people have since been arrested in connection with the attack, as well as a racially aggravated public order offence.
Business owners have previously complained about gangs of wild teenagers 'terrifying' shop workers and customers at the retail park and elsewhere in Heywood town centre.
In a post on the GMP Heywood Facebook page, officers described the latest incident as 'wholly unacceptable'.
They added: "All weekend your Neighbourhood team have been focussed on Anti-Social behaviour around the town centre and surrounding areas. We know this is one of your top concerns and we have a full plan in place to disrupt these incidents, identify offenders and robustly deal with them.
"We have deployed various tactics over the last couple of weeks. These are both uniform and plain clothes. We have had more resources in the area such as dogs, horses and intercept teams and we have identified several main offenders who have been dealt with and this will continue.
"Today you will have seen a heavy police presence at Morrisons in Heywood. Plain clothes officers were out patrolling when they identified a group of youths who were causing issues for customers and children at Times Retail Park due to their behaviour.
"The neighbourhood team have immediately challenged this group and were met with hostility. Unfortunately, during this encounter two officers were punched in the face, kicked, spat at and bitten. This is wholly unacceptable.
"The two offenders have been arrested for these offences as well as a racially aggravated public order offence. My team will ensure that these individuals are held account for their actions and will be relentless in pursuing other offenders with the goal to reduce anti social behaviour for residents and businesses alongside the other issues you raise with us.
"Please can I ask you to help us, by speaking with your children and relaying to them the impacts of Anti-Social Behaviour, should you suspect they are involved in any of the recently reported incidents in the town centre area.
"I'd also like to thank the kind members of the public who assisted our officers during the incident and passed them supportive words. This doesn’t go unnoticed, and the team appreciated it."
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