Those living on a “quiet” Wigan street have spoken of their horror after a group of men were seen ‘fighting with knives’. Police were called to reports of a disturbance on Glebe Street in Leigh at around 6.40pm on Saturday (March 30).
A 26-year-old man was later arrested and no injuries were reported, a spokesman for GMP confirmed.
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Residents have since spoken of their shock after waking up to news of the disorder – one saying there’s only ever trouble in the area when the sun comes out.
“I’ve never had a problem,” said a 50-year-old neighbour, who did not wish to give her name, said. “Saying that, they do come out when it’s sunny. There’s a lot of crowding; people congregate.”
David Bray, 55, said he saw around eight police cars and a riot van on the street during the commotion.
“I saw eight police cars going down the road and a riot van,” he added. “There’s normally not that much trouble, but I’ve got a thick front door and a dog. It’s normally quiet.”
(Image: Paige Oldfield)
Another resident, who did not wish to give her name, said: “This part is a quiet area. I like living here.
“I’m quite shocked [at the disturbance]. I didn’t hear or see anything, I didn’t get back until the early hours. It’s normally the other end of the street that is a bit noisier.”
Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, added: “It’s usually alright. I’ve never had any problems and we’ve lived here a few years. We knew there was stuff in the news but we’ve never had any issues.”
Police upped their stop and search powers following the disorder in and around Glebe Street, authorising a Section 60 authority in a defined area of Leigh.
The Section 60 powers, under the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, ran from 7.45pm on Saturday to 10am on Sunday, March 31.
The Section 60 authority grants officers extended powers to stop and search individuals within the area
Police said “extensive investigation work” is currently ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident and highly visible patrols will continue to provide reassurance within the community.
Detective Superintendent Gareth Jenkins said:” Our priority is always to keep our communities safe and we believe that authorising this Section 60 is proportionate and necessary following the reports made to us earlier this evening.
“Extra patrol officers have been deployed around the local area both on foot and in patrol cars. If you have any concerns, our officers will be happy to provide reassurance and listen to any of your queries.”
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact GMP on 101, quoting log number 2649 of 30/03/2024.
Information can also be reported online or by using the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk. If you can’t report online, or to 101, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
