"It just doesn't feel safe anymore": Piccadilly Gardens workers open up on daily battles after weekend of chaos

Some of those working in and around Piccadilly Gardens say things are 'as bad as they've ever been' in the area after a weekend of violence and chaos.

On Friday (July, 21) a large group of school children and college students caused 'mayhem' on the last day of term, with cops and passers-by being pelted with eggs forcing trams to stop running and some businesses to close early. Riot police were called in to enforce a dispersal order which was put in place and three arrests were made.

Footage later emerged of a fight on the platform of the Market Street Metrolink stop. Then on Monday night (July 24), a number of fights broke out across both St Peter’s Square and Piccadilly Gardens after a party was shut down at a venue on Deansgate.

Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.

The Manchester Evening News has revealed that the birthday party at Rebellion, where over 200 under-18s are said to have turned up, was ended early on police advice after a knife was thrown over a fence. Four police officers were attacked in the trouble that then flared on the other side of the city centre. Four teenagers were arrested.

On Tuesday the M.E.N visited the Gardens and spoke to several of those who work there every day including in security, and they painted a grim picture of frequent violence and anti-social behaviour, with several feeling the situation is deteriorating and that a more frequent and visible police presence is needed.

Rehman Butt, 50, a doorman at a premises close to the gardens, which he asked us not to name, said a number of shops and restaurants closed their doors as Monday night's violence raged shortly before 9pm. "Whatever happened started in there" he said