Police have launched an investigation after reports a woman was injured at Oldham council’s headquarters. Greater Manchester Police has confirmed officers were called over an incident inside the Civic Centre on West Street at around 5.50pm on Wednesday night.
A number of residents have been banned by the local authority from attending public meetings for 12 months following ‘disruption’ at full council meetings in June and July. The latest incident occurred during a meeting of the full council on November 2 which had begun just after 5.30pm.
A video posted on social media from inside the Civic Centre alleged that people were not being allowed entry to the meeting, and that two people, a man and a woman, had been assaulted.
Oldham council said that a number of people who had been banned from attending meetings ‘tried to force entry to the council chamber’. Opposition councillors have called for answers over the incident.
The borough’s Conservative group has contacted the council leader Amanda Chadderton to ask for the authority to ‘urgently’ investigate the circumstances of the incident.
St James ward Councillor Beth Sharp said: “These are shocking scenes, and something that I never thought that I would see in a council building in Oldham. I have written directly to the leader of the council, Amanda Chadderton, requesting a full public statement regarding the events of last night, and a categoric assurance that this matter will be fully and urgently investigated.
“The public will be quite rightly, extremely concerned to hear of this, and will expect the appropriate action to be taken, and taken quickly.”
Failsworth Independent Group leader Coun Brian Hobin said: “There are security screens around the public gallery now so there is no justification for keeping ordinary members of the public out. We are elected to serve the public and they should be allowed to attend all meetings. I expect a full investigation by the chief executive and appropriate action taken.”
Under new rules members of the public who wish to attend meetings are now asked to provide their name, address and photographic ID to council employees and security staff, and allow the inspection of their bags which would be stored by staff during the meeting.
People would also be issued a temporary council pass with a photo taken at the Civic Centre. They must also leave the building if asked to do so by staff and if they wish to film or take videos do so as ‘unobtrusively as possible’.
A council spokesman said: “Oldham council welcomes open and honest debate, which is why full council is open to the public and we also ask people to submit questions matters that are important to them.
“We understand that people want to express their views through peaceful protests – this is the right of everyone. However, anti-social behaviour cannot be allowed to disrupt the proceedings, which was the case on Wednesday night.
“A number of people who have been banned from attending meetings due to their disruptive, and at times violent behaviour, tried to force entry into the council chamber. We are currently looking into the incident in line with our complaints procedures.”
A GMP spokesperson said: “At around 5.50pm on Wednesday (2 November) we were called to a report of a woman being injured inside the Oldham Civic Centre on West Street.
“An investigation is underway and enquiries are ongoing.”
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