The intent was to harm, to damage, to frighten

CHIEF SLAMS ‘ORCHESTRATED CRIMINALITY’ OF PROTEST BATTLES

- JOHN SCHEERHOUT

THE violence which erupted in Manchester and Bolton at the weekend when masked men were involved in running battles with riot police was 'orchestrated criminality' and had nothing to do with lawful protest, Chief Constable Stephen Watson has told the M.E.N.

Disorder hit towns and cities across the country, including in Greater Manchester, followed the fatal stabbings of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport last week. Incorrect rumours - that the suspect in the stabbings was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a small boat - spread on social media and appears to have fuelled the unrest.

In a frank interview, the chief admitted the force 'is stretched' and was bracing itself for more trouble in the coming days. He revealed GMP has cancelled rest days and leave as part of an effort to corral a squad of 1,000 officers, some of them riot cops, available to mobile at any moment.

He revealed the violence which happened in Manchester city centre on Saturday and in Bolton on Sunday was 'orchestrated' and that a dedicated 'arrest cell' led by a senior officer has been set up to comb through CCTV and H police body-cam footage to bring troublemakers to justice.