POLICE are warning anyone who is out to cause trouble during this weekend’s fair in Chester, that they could face being banned from the city centre.

Extra officers will be on duty during the fair which is held at the Little Roodee car park from Thursday (April 29) to Saturday, May 8.

Insp Ian Thorp of the Chester Inner Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “The fair is an annual attraction enjoyed by people from across the city and beyond. We want to ensure everyone who attends is safe and has fun.

“Unfortunately, last year, a small number of people did cause problems in the city centre over the fair weekend. We have increased patrols this year to ensure that does not happen again and the event is not spoiled for everyone else.”

On May 2 last year, three teenagers and one 20 year-old were arrested after a fight broke out in Bridge Street.

In March this year, a 17 year-old and a 16 year-old were sentenced to six month Detention and Training Orders at Chester Crown Court after they pleaded guilty to the affray.

An 18 year-old and a 20 year-old were sentenced to eight months in a Young Offenders’ Institution after they also pleaded guilty to the same offence.

Insp Thorp said: “As this case shows, anyone behaving in an anti-social, violent or criminal way will be dealt with robustly by my officers. We will be using our powers under section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act to remove people from the city and ban them from returning for up to 48 hours.”

Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act gives police officers the power to direct someone to leave an area for a maximum of 48 hours if they believe their presence is likely to cause or to contribute to the occurrence of alcohol related crime or disorder.

The order is often used in Chester city centre to prevent anti-social behaviour or violent crime.