Two drivers were arrested over the weekend after a `100 people attended a car meet  - despite warnings from police that vehicles would seized.

Officers said that around 60 vehicles pulled up on a Bolton car park.

And when police arrived the drivers ‘swiftly’ left but not before two arrests were made.

The car meet late Sunday night was organised despite Bolton police warning that a dispersal order had been issued after receiving intelligence such a gathering was to take place.

The dispersal powers were authorised to prevent anti-social behaviour and reduce the risk to members of the community, say officers.

The powers were in place until 5am yesterday

This meant people congregating in the Manchester Road, Bridgeman Place, Lower Bridgeman Street, Bradford Street junction of Bury Road and adjoining streets including Unit 2, Trinity Retail Park, Bradford Street,  The Haulgh, Bolton.

 The police operation involved district police officers and teams from the specialist’s operations branch.

Police warned that they would take action against any individual driving dangerously or carelessly and in an anti-social manner.

Despite the warning a gathering still took place.

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A spokesman for GMP Bolton North said: “You know, people come and show off their ‘Fast 'n' Furious’ motors to look at but a select few start revving engines and doing silly stunts or racing.

“Well only thing was we tipped up early to engage and tell them the exciting news that we had a Dispersal Order in place to prevent any anti-social behaviour use of motor vehicles to protect the local communities and road network around Bolton.

“Sixty cars turned up and some 100 people came down which gave us a great chance to discuss why their presence might be an issue.

“Whilst we all know that many in the custom car communities are good decent folk, there are an unfortunate few out to cause trouble.”

“Sixty cars left in a hurry but not before two drivers tested positive for drugs." 

 

 

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Police say the action is being taken due to recent incidents involving vehicles driven dangerously at similar events across the region, which has become increasingly popular.

In 2018 19-year-old Sophie Smith from Radcliffe was in Trafford Park when an illegal car meet was taking place.

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She was hit by a car and died as a result of her injuries.

The inquest into her death revealed that the illegal car meets had been flagged up as an issue back in 2014.

This isn’t the first-time dispersal powers have been issued.

They have been issued on several occasions to prevent violence between young people after receiving intelligence of fights being organised.

Dispersal powers mean that people have to leave an area and not to come back within a certain time period.