Perhaps concerned by the flashmob happening next week, Greater Manchester Police seem to be acting nervously of late:

“Last Saturday, two of our Electriks promotions squad, Matt and Emma, were standing on Oldham Street with our ‘End Is Nigh’ and ‘End Of Year Riot’ Electric Chair banners held aloft, handing out flyers.

“After half an hour, while walking around the Northern Quarter, Matt was approached by a police riot van at the bottom of Oldham Street, where four fully-clad, riot-prepared police officers got out of the van and hurried towards him.

“Thinking that they were approaching him to question whether he had a flyer permit – recently introduced as part of Manchester City Council’s new rules for promoters – Matt pulled out his permit ready for them to check.

“Instead, they requested information about the ‘riot’ that Matt was supposedly inducing.”

As a side point, I’ve never heard of a flyering permit, nor can I find information about it on the council website. Anyone know anything about it?