Preston city centre dispersal order in force after Flag Market protests

A police presence in the Flag Market during Saturday afternoon Pic: Carl Stein/Blog Preston

Part of Preston city centre has a dispersal order in force following small-scale protests on the city’s Flag Market which threatened to spill over into violence.

Preston Police has announced a section-34 order covering part of the city focused on the area around the Flag Market.

During Saturday (3 August) afternoon around 20 to 30 protestors massed on the Flag Market and chanted anti-immigration slogans and wrapped themselves in England and Union flags.

They were met by a counter-protest group who disputed the claims made by the protest group during an intense stand-off on the edge of the Flag Market before police dispersed the protest groups into Church Street where traffic was briefly stopped.

A police spokesperson said: “We have this afternoon issued a Section 34 dispersal order for areas of Preston city centre.

“We don’t take decisions like this lightly; however, it has been necessary to do so because of ongoing anti-social behaviour.

“The order has been put in place to prevent disorder and allow other members of the community to enjoy the city centre without any issue and runs until 10pm.”

An increased police presence has remained in the city centre throughout Saturday afternoon.

The map below shows the area covered by the section-34 order which runs from the top of Friargate by the university campus, to Lune Street, along Fishergate and Church Street down to Ringway and back to Friargate via Walker Street.

Blog Preston has contacted Preston Police and Preston City Council for further comment about Saturday’s protests.

Subscribe: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox.