Representatives from Gypsy and Traveller communities are due to attend a meeting at the mayor’s office in Manchester, after children attending the Christmas markets were “forced on to trains” by police.
National charity the Traveller Movement held preliminary talks with lawyers on Monday, the Manchester Evening News (MEN) reported, and said it was considering taking legal action over the incident.
Greater Manchester police (GMP) put in a 48-hour dispersal notice on Saturday afternoon, after reports of antisocial behaviour in the city centre, and on trains to Manchester.
Videos posted to social media showed young people being herded on to trains at Manchester Victoria station, with one boy heard shouting: “I don’t know where I’m going.”
One parent who spoke anonymously to the MEN said her 13-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son had ended up more than 100 miles away, in Grimsby.
“Together with colleagues in Manchester and surrounding regions, we will ensure this is fully investigated,” the charity posted on X. “We are also meeting with lawyers and will share further updates over the coming days.”
A spokesperson told the MEN: “We met with solicitors today and there are a few different options. A decision has not been made as yet, but there are, we believe, cases to answer here.
“We have been inundated by parents. There are huge questions to be asked here, as children were separated from older siblings who were chaperoning them.”
On Sunday, Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor said she would meet community leaders to discuss the incident.
“I have watched the videos circulating on social media with concern and have asked GMP for a full report on the action taken,” Kate Green, said.
“While we will not tolerate lawlessness and antisocial behaviour in Greater Manchester, I want to reassure the community that I expect the police to treat everyone fairly and with respect and I will be inviting community leaders to meet me to discuss what has happened.”
“Our priority is always to protect public safety by preventing incidents of violence and disorder,” GMP’s assistant chief constable Rick Jackson said in a statement issued on Sunday.
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“Due to intelligence of groups causing antisocial behaviour on trains on the way into Manchester and similar reports rising around the city centre, alongside increasing footfall, we issued a dispersal order. This included plans for officers to reroute arriving groups back home.
“Shortly after, officers responded to several disturbances in the city centre and intervened in altercations between groups.
“We understand there are feelings of mistreatment and confusion amongst the groups of people for being turned away yesterday, and we are determined to address these concerns by working closely with the mayor’s office to engage these communities in Manchester and further afield.”
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