Police were out in force in Bolton town centre on Sunday afternoon amid heated far-right and counter demonstrations. A far-right group had gathered around the area from Newport Street leading onto Victoria Square in front of the town hall. Counter-protesters had also gathered around Oxford Street leading onto the square with police granted special powers to order people to leave the area.
Chief Inspector Natasha Evans said: “We have been working with organisers of pre-planned protests to help facilitate peaceful and lawful protests, to prevent serious disruption and ensure everyone can go about their lives without fear or risk of harm. Police with dogs on Bradshawgate (Image: Phil Taylor) “We will continue to have an increased police presence around these areas to deal with any incidents that may arise, and with these additional powers, officers are more equipped to intervene early to ensure people feel safe and are safe. The far-right group had gathered as part of a self-styled “Enough is Enough: Stand up for Country” rally.
Police at Victoria Square (Image: Phil Taylor) Many of the counter-protesters opposing the group had brought with them Bolton United for Peace placards. Bolton Unison secretary Andrea Egan said that she had come to the counter-protest to represented her union and to show that the town was united against the far-right. Also attending the counter-protest was Eileen Murphy.
She said: "It very distressing that after the dreadful thing that happened in Southport, the far right including the lot opposite us, have tried to make things worse. Far right demonstrators had gathered just off Victoria Square (Image: Phil Taylor) "Bolton has a proud tradition of fighting fascism and that will continue in the unfortunate case that we have to. "There's old people here, younger, white people, black people, everyone united.
" She was joined by Neil Duffield. He said: "We want people to know that we're opposed to the sort of divisions in society and these people trying to drive wedges between different communities. "Bolton as a whole is a town where people get on together, and that's as it should be whether your Muslim, Christian or whatever.
"The violence we've seen after the events in Southport doesn't do anyone any good, the families of those little girls certainly don't want it." Police lined up (Image: Phil Taylor) Far-right demonstrators on the other side of the square engaged in often angry and heated arguments with the police. Tensions rose as another group of counter-protesters estimated to be around 300, many with faces covered arrived in around the Oxford Street, Victoria Square interface, many of them chanting “Nazi scum, off our street.
” A breakaway group of counter protesters then moved on to Bradshawgate but were again contained by the police in riot gear , some of them off Wood Street. Items were thrown during the protest. Stand-off developed around Bradshawgate and Victoria Square, with fireworks heard to go off at one stage.
Counter-protesters heading to Victoria Square (Image: Phil Taylor) Anti-far-right demonstrator Florence Hill said: "I was here for Bolton for peace, I came down. "Where would we have been if Cable Street hadn't happened, if Moseley hadn't been stood up to? "We've got to stand up to it but we've got to it peacefully." Later that afternoon another group were contained in Victoria Square, away from the main group.
A group being escorted away from the town centre to Queens Park (Image: Phil Taylor) By just after 4pm most of the crowds had dispersed and police announced that they had authorised section 60 powers in the area. These gave them extra powers to stop and search people. As of 4.
15pm the square had largely cleared and a group of several hundred people were escorted away from the town centre down Spa Road before being dispersed on Queens Park. As of 4.40pm Greater Manchester Police had not confirmed if any arrests had been made.
Police still remain in the town centre and near the train station, where the road had been blocked off for a short while. An officer and police dog in Bolton town centre (Image: Phil Taylor) Earlier in the week, Mayor of Bolton Cllr Andy Morgan appealed to people in the borough to remain united. He said: “Now more than ever we need to come together and understand each other’s cultures and communities.
“ Bolton is such a special place and we have been exempt, unlike those around us, from discord and community division. ALSO READ: Police presence in town centre amid heated demonstration ALSO READ: Bolton police given extra powers as protest takes place in town centre ALSO READ: Bolton urged 'come together and understand each other' “No one should be worried about walking in their streets that make up our communities or go to their places of worship. “Do not let outsiders come into our borough and cause unrest and leave for us all to pick up the pieces when they depart.
Police in the town centre (Image: Phil Taylor) “Yes we know we have issues that we need to work through but we will do that as we always do. “In times of challenge and change, our strength lies in standing together. “Our shared values and common interests bind us.
“By staying united, we protect our town and borough and promote unity. “Together, we are stronger, and together, we will prevail.” Police continue to remain in the town centre and Trinity Street.
Bolton Interchange has closed for today. Bus services are still running but only to the closest stops outside of the immediate town centre. Customers are being directed to make their way out of the town centre to pick up services.
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