Police update on dispersal order after attacks in Ossett

The order ran from 4pm on Friday (Oct 23) to 4pm on Sunday following two suspected racially motivated attacks the previous weekend.

It gave police the power to exclude people from areas including Ossett town centre.

A police spokesperson said: "The dispersal order in Ossett saw officers deployed across the area, however there were no calls for service in relation to anti-social behaviour.

"We will continue to monitor the situation during the school holiday and into November."

Police believe two assaults in Ossett town centre on Saturday October 17 were racially motivated.

The assaults happened between 9.15pm and 10.15pm after a Hindu celebration event of Dussehra and Bathukamma at Ossett Town Hall.

A man was leaving the event when he was verbally abused and then struck on the back of the head, possibly by a bottle, causing a head injury.

A second man was also hit on the head, possibly by a bottle, and punched causing him to fall to the floor and injuring his face.

Police continue to appeal for information about a group of youths who were seen around the town hall during the evening, particularly those who were seen riding Sur-Rons or E-bikes at the time of the incident.

A number of residents raised concerns about anti-social behaviour at Ossett and Gawthorpe Police and Communities Together meeting on October 20 at New Spring Church.

One man said: "It's like OK Corral, horrendous in the centre of Ossett. You are going through it and you don't know if you are going to get a window put through on your car.

"You daren't have your doors unlocked. There's many a time I have gone past and kids have been chasing after you. They don't care. If you touch them they are going to say 'he's run me over.'

"If you get out of the car they are going to kick ten bells out of you. They're all feral, but there's no sign of police."

A woman told the meeting: "Last Wednesday or Thursday I called 999. I counted 14, they weren't children I would say about 17-years-old, all in balaclavas going rounds on bikes.

"All of a sudden a gang came down and they had 'display' fireworks. I counted 40, 16 or 17 year olds and they went down to the park.

"It was an absolute disgrace. It has been like this now for the past two weeks and you daren't even go out. When you get 40 and they are not exactly children it is absolutely disgusting."

Another woman said: "I've walked through there on a night and you are not just talking 20 or 30 you are talking absolutely loads. They are out of their heads, whether it's drugs or whether it's drink."

Anyone with information about the assaults in Ossett on October 17 are asked to contact West Yorkshire Police on 101 or go online via Live Chat on our website quoting log 13260592629.

Alternatively, call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.