Police step up patrols at a Harborough park at the centre of a huge brawl involving up to 100 young people last weekend

Police are stepping up patrols at a Market Harborough park at the centre of a huge brawl involving up to 100 young people last weekend.

Both council officers and police officers will be out patrolling Little Bowden Recreation Ground off Northampton Road to deter and crack down on trouble.

The police are to work alongside Harborough District Council, Leicestershire fire service and Leicestershire County Council in a united response after the violent disturbance.

“There will be a multi-agency patch walk, as well as extra patrols of both police and council officers,” said Harborough council.

New signs and extra security measures, possibly including CCTV cameras, are also being looked into.

Extra bins are being set up and litter louts will be fined £150.

A letter is being sent to nearby residents, left furious and terrified by the massive disturbance, to update them on steps being taken.

Cllr Simon Whelband, Harborough council’s cabinet lead for communities, said: “The easing of the lockdown has resulted in an unprecedented increase in the use of our parks.

“However, anti-social behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated.

“We are closely working with police and local residents to address concerns and ensure that our parks remain clean, safe and hospitable places to enjoy.”

Cllr Whelband said recent incidents also involved young adults.

He said the authority had received messages from teenage park users condemning the offenders’ behaviour.

“Over the past few weeks there have been a number of incidents reported to the council and the police around large groups gathering and anti-social behaviour including, noise, littering, drug-use and rowdy behaviour,” said the council.

A rowdy crowd of about 80-100 people, aged from about 15 into their early 20s, massed at the trouble-torn park late at night on Friday June 26.

“The group dispersed when police arrived and, as part of the investigation, police are reviewing video footage,” said the council.

Men were spotted bare-knuckle fighting, some were reported to have been wielding iron bars and two knives were recovered by police from the scene.

Insp Siobhan Gorman, in charge of Harborough police, imposed a 36-hour Dispersal Order that ran across the weekend until 7am on Monday morning.

No further incidents were reported.

Firefighters are to go out on patrols on bikes giving advice.

The county council’s IMPACT team – which tackles anti-social behaviour – has been out on Friday nights in June and will be requested for further nights during July.

“The Public Space Protection Order is being actively enforced with alcohol removed and details taken of anyone behaving in an anti-social manner.

“Police will be patrolling anti-social hotspots in the district at night, including Little Bowden,” said the council.

“If residents have any concerns about anti-social behaviour they should call police on 101 or report online.

“If concerned about a public order incident that needs immediate response please call 999.

“Please do not report via social media as this is not always monitored 24/7.

“Residents are also encouraged to report litter via an online form on Harborough District Council’s website, or by emailing [email protected]”