Large police presence as caravan park shut down with families told to leave

There was a large police presence at a Traveller site in Bolton this morning as the caravan park was shut down by council officials.

Travellers have lived at Crompton Lodge, in the Moses Gate area, for around 20 years. But authorities have linked the site to 'escalating violence and criminality'.

Greater Manchester Police said that guns have been hidden in toilet blocks at the site, 'large-scale' episodes of disorder have broken out and knife-point robberies have taken place. Last month, Bolton Council started the process of closing down the site but families vowed to stay.

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Today (July 8), a large police response was pictured outside the entrances to the site and on Moses Gate. A number of Tactical Aid Unit vans were pictured lining the road, as well as the GMP dogs unit.

Officers could be seen going in and out of the site beside the 'closure order' sign that has been erected outside. The order, granted by a Manchester court, stated that 'access to the premises is prohibited by all persons' until October 3.

It stops families from going back onto the caravan site once they have left. A spokesperson for GMP said officers 'assisted council staff in executing a closure order'.

The spokesperson confirmed that occupants on the site 'vacated the premises without issue'. They added that those who have tenancy agreements with Bolton Council 'are being supported'.

The M.E.N has contacted Bolton Council for further information on the activity at Crompton Lodge today. In a statement, a GMP spokesperson said: "There was a police presence around Crompton Lodge in Bolton this morning (08/07/2024) while we assisted council staff in executing a closure