Update: 1130 hrs

Essex Police: “We were called to reports of a disturbance at Asda in The Water Gardens, Harlow, at 8.25pm last night, 5 July.

“A man in his 40s was spoken to and served a penalty notice for disorder”.

Essex Police confirmed there were no arrests as a consequence of dispersal order.
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2100 hrs

There is a large police presence in the town centre tonight (Friday).

A large group of males continue to congregate in the market square.

Police officers were called to an incident in Asda.

A male was arrested.

More follows.

A dispersal order is currently in place in Harlow.

The order started at 6.45pm today and will run until 2am tomorrow morning, 6 July.

It follows reports of several fights in the town centre this evening.

The dispersal order will be in place in the town centre, between Fourth Avenue, the A1019, Third Avenue and Hayden Road.

It also serves the The Stow, intersecting between First Mandela Avenue, Howard Way and Momples Road.

Officers will have the power to move on members of the public who are suspected to be committing anti-social behaviour and, if they return to the area within 24 hours, they may be arrested.

Inspector James Healy, of Harlow’s Local Policing Team, said: “We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in Harlow town centre and, in order to prevent further disorder this evening, it’s been necessary to put these measures in place.

“We want people in Harlow to have a safe, enjoyable experience in our town, and this dispersal order will ensure that they do.”