GMP Enacts 24-Hour Stop-and-Search in Bolton After Interchange Brawl

Overview

• Greater Manchester Police activated a Section 60 order from 4pm on 3 March to 4pm on 4 March covering streets around Bolton town centre, including Topp Way, Bury New Road, Bradford Street, Manchester Road and others.
• The authority, under the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, permits officers to stop and search people within the defined area without needing reasonable suspicion.
• Officers say the disturbance at Bolton Interchange involved roughly 30 people and they believe several individuals were assaulted.
• Alyas Majid, 18, of Westleigh Lane in Leigh, has been charged with possession of a bladed article and is due at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court on 6 May 2026.
• GMP has deployed extra foot and vehicle patrols and urged witnesses to contact 101 quoting log 1234 of 03/03/2026, use the online LiveChat at gmp.police.uk, or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.