Extra stop-and-search powers granted after clashes

Police in Oldham have been granted additional stop-and-search powers following overnight disorder which involved a car chase and machetes being brandished.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said three men - two in their 20s, the other in his 50s - had been arrested on suspicion of affray and remain in custody for questioning.

The force said Section 60 powers, granted under the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, would remain in place in Oldham until 02:59 BST on Saturday.

GMP said it had been called to "a number of incidents overnight involving weapons" in parts of the town.

Officers responded to reports of a chase between two SUVs on Lee Street at about 18:00 on Thursday.

GMP said one of the cars crashed into a tree before machete-wielding men attempted to attack its driver.

Then, at about 22:20, a large disturbance involving at least 10 men "with various weapons" was reported.

GMP said more than 100 people were on the street, "with pockets of disorder still in the area".

People dispersed after officers arrived, the force said.

About 15 minutes later, officers were called to reports that a man had been attacked on Roundthorn Road.

They found a "smashed taxi" and a man in his 20s with minor injuries.

Supt Cara Charlesworth, from GMP's Oldham division, said the Section 60 order was a "proportionate and necessary" response to the disorder.

"This authority enables officers to utilise extra powers to stop-search individuals and hopefully ensure some potentially dangerous weapons that we have been aware of overnight are taken off the street," she said.

"We have made arrests, seized vehicles that are believed to be involved in these incidents, CCTV inquires are ongoing and arrest attempts for outstanding suspects are being made."

The Section 60 order covers the junction between Constantine Street and Greenacres Road, Greenacres Road to Oldham Way, and Oldham Way to Park Road.

It also includes Park Road to the junction with King's Road, King's Road via the outer border of Snipe Clough Nature Reserve, Snipe Clough Nature Reserve to the Dean Terrance junction with Alt Lane, and Alt Lane to the Abbey Hills Road junction with Holts Lane.

The order further includes Holts Lane to Sunny Bank, Sunny Bank to the Thomas Street junction with High Street, High Street to the Lees Road junction with Wellyhole Street, and Wellyhole Street to the junction between Constantine Street and Greenacres Road.

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