IT'S good to see the police are beginning to do something about the hooligan element of drinkers in the town centre. I have complained of the eyesore they create. The police correctly targeted and dealt with the situation.

Some friends and I were standing outside the Globe having a pint, not disturbing anyone, when the police came and told the landlord he had to get all the people off the street. The landlady told us: "We've had a complaint from the police and you all have to come inside."

No explanation was offered from the policeman, who by the way said nothing to the people standing outside, and no reason given.

It's not as if we were causing an obstruction or that we were blocking the pavement. In fact, the only people in the streets were the customers of the Globe.

There was no traffic and no other pedestrians. Bradshawgate was very quiet, there wasn't anyone shouting or using bad language, in fact it was just a dozen or so people having a quiet conversation.

Does this mean that shoppers can't stand have a chat in the street before the police move them on. We were doing no harm in any way what so ever. What if we were not drinking and we were standing outside, would they have the power to tell us where to go then, I don't think so.

It is coming to something when your freedom of choice and your freedom of liberty are no longer yours to exercise. Clearly we were a soft target as there was no protest, but it did create a lot of bad feeling and anger from everyone when there was no apparent reason to get us off the street.

Is this what the police call a "planned and executed and effective policing strategy."

Steve Andrews

(Address supplied)

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