A DISPERSAL order was used to break up “big crowds” of rowdy drinkers after repeated reports of anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled violence.

Essex Police took the step of putting a 48-hour order in place covering Colchester town centre from 6pm on Friday until 6pm on Sunday.

The order was put in place to prevent crime and disorder and to keep people living in the area from being harassed, alarmed or distressed.

Officers patrolled the town centre across the weekend with the order giving them additional powers to move on anyone behaving in an anti-social manner.

It was the third such order authorised in Colchester since the start of August, with the town centre packed after the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.

Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston, Colchester’s district commander, said his team had dealt with an incident of “serious violence” across each of the last three weekends.

Police were called to Head Street, in Colchester, shortly after 1.45am last Saturday, September 11, following reports a man was assaulted.

The victim, a man in his 30s who is believed to be a doorman, is said to have suffered a broken cheekbone.

Two men, both from Colchester and aged 19 and 22, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and actual bodily harm, but have since been released under investigation.

In a video, the incident appears to take place outside Yates and shows a violent scuffle break out.

The clip, published on Twitter, captures the moment a doorman restrained a reveller before another man then launched an attack on the bouncer.

The incident then escalated between a large group of men and the bouncers before it spilled out on to the street.

As the melee continues, one man was knocked unconscious and could be seen lying face down on the pavement.

Mr Huddleston said: “We’ve seen bigger crowds of people going out than we’re used to in terms of pre-Covid.

“When you think we’ve only had one incident of grievous bodily harm it is still actually a safe place and the chances of something happening to you are pretty remote.

“The reason we put the dispersal order in was to use those extra powers. The weekend saw no serious incidents, so it went really well.”

Mr Huddleston said the extra powers allowed officers to move on drinkers from Queen Street at around 5.30am after individuals became aggressive.

“When I’ve had that run of three serious incidents over three consecutive weekends, it’s a really good tool,” he said.

“The reassurance to give to the residents and the people out is that actually, if you’re standing around enjoying yourself it is never going to affect you.

“If you’re going to start and try to cause that particular kind of trouble, I can nip it in the bud far earlier, I don’t need to wait for you to break the law before I can carry out enforcement.”