Dispersal order after hundreds attend street party

Police issued a dispersal order and arrested a 16-year-old boy following a street party in Nottingham that saw more than 200 people gathered.

Nottinghamshire Police said it received reports of a large gathering in Lodgewood Close, Bulwell, at about 17:50 BST on Saturday.

Loud music was playing and dozens were gathered in the street when officers arrived, the force added.

After spotting some suspicious behaviour, police recovered a knife and cannabis. The teenage suspect was held on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon in public and possessing Class B drugs.

Police said it chose to stop the street party through the issuing of the dispersal order, which gave police the powers to move people on or face the prospect of being arrested.

Officers said they also received reports of similar gatherings across Nottingham over the bank holiday weekend.

These included a party on the Arboretum on Saturday and a large gathering in the Ilkeston Road area of Radford on Monday, the force said.

Officers said they managed to disperse the groups with no further action needed.

Ch Insp Kylie Davies said: "We understand that, when the weather is as nice as it's been, people will inevitably want to gather and socialise.

"There is a point though, where these gatherings can become anti-social, especially when you add in things like loud music playing, which can disturb and cause concern for the local community.

"A decision was quite rightly taken to issue a dispersal order on Saturday in Lodgewood Close, Bulwell, while our officers also made an arrest after finding and seizing a bladed weapon at the scene, which is clearly unacceptable."

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