'Mob rule' fears over town centre yobs

Town centre business owners have said their lives are being made a misery by mobs of young people vandalism and fighting in the streets.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) - which said some of the children involved were as young as 12 - has introduced two dispersal orders in Wigan in the last six months.

Aaron Manders, who runs the Evolution Trading Cards store in Jaxon's Court, said: "These teenagers abuse us, they fight each other, they threaten to fight us and make stupid Snapchat videos just to get a reaction out of us."

"We've reported it to the police but nothing's being done and if this continues there'll be nothing left of Wigan. It'll just be mob rule," the 34 year-old said.

GMP said that up to 50 local young people have been responsible for the anti-social behaviour, which has included racial abuse, in Jaxons Court near Wigan bus station.

The force said it had been in touch with local schools and colleges to help identify those responsible, which has resulted in some students being excluded or suspended.

Dispersal orders give police the power to move people engaging in anti-social behaviour from a designated area for up to 48 hours.

Anyone not abiding by the order can be arrested or fined up to £2,500, or face a prison sentence of up to three months.

Sgt Jonathan Calder said: "Dispersal orders are something we don't use lightly because they infringe on human rights but we also have to consider the human rights of the people being affected.

"We can't continue allowing youths to roam the streets and just cause chaos."

Ifeanyi Chukwu, who runs the Peerless convenience store and off-licence near the bus station, said: "We've had members of staff going after shoplifters and you can tell it's something which is pre-planned."

The 36 year-old shopkeeper added: "They've damaged our front door so more needs to be done to protect small businesses in our area."

Nicola Hamill, bar manager at the Tap and Barrell in Jaxon's Court, said: "The children hang around outside my bar, climbing on my benches, swearing and fighting with each other.

"As soon as the police come, they go away but then they come back.

"One of my customers went outside and told them to move away, so they launched a brick through the window and a 70-year-old gentleman suffered cuts to his face."

According to Greater Manchester Police, overall recorded crime across Wigan in 2025 reduced by 1.5%, resulting in 489 fewer recorded incidents.

Deanery High School's headteacher Martin Wood said: "Any reports of anti-social behaviour are treated extremely seriously and we work alongside our partners, including police and parents, in taking appropriate action when required."

A spokeswoman for Wigan & Leigh College said it had taken disciplinary action against students on the "rare occasions" they had been involved in any trouble.

She added: "We actively promote social responsibility and active citizenship with our students and hold high expectations for how they conduct themselves both in college and in the wider community."