Investigation Continues After Town Centre Disorder

Police on the High Street in Market Harborough after disorder on Saturday night.
Pic: Leicestershire Police

Police are studying CCTV footage after disorder in Market Harborough town centre on Saturday night, after pubs re-opened for the first time since March.

There were a number of incidents on the High Street, including a woman being assaulted and a man being assaulted, which resulted in a 21-year-old man being arrested.

Officers implemented a Dispersal Order in a bid to deal with the situation and ordered a number of people to leave the area, and some pubs closed early.

Yesterday Police and Harborough Council licencing officers visited pubs to inspect and follow-up on licencing issues that were raised and a meeting is also taking place to review what happened.

Council Leader Phil King told Hfm he was very disappointed with the scenes:

A Leicestershire Police spokesperson told Hfm: “Following a number of incidents of low-level public disorder reported in Market Harborough town centre on Saturday evening, a Section 34 Dispersal Order was authorised giving officers the power to require people to leave the area to reduce the risk of causing harassment, alarm or distress to the local community and to also reduce the risk of any further public disorder.

“The order was in place between 11pm on Saturday and 7am on Sunday.

“Working with local licensees once the order was put in place the majority of those gathered left the area peacefully.

“To prevent any further incidents of disruption a number of premises made the decision to close their doors early.

“We continue to work closely with partners, business owners and the local community to address concerns around anti-social behaviour in the area,

“Reports were received of a woman having been assaulted in the town last night and enquiries are continuing into the allegation.

“As a result of these enquiries a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault after a man was subsequently injured.”