Chief Constable Ian Hopkins has signalled the closure of Piccadilly Gardens because of continuing antisocial behaviour despite the coronavirus lockdown.
He suggested fencing off the city's main civic square.
After he made the comments on radio programme, council leaders agreed and the Gardens will now be closed off.
Officers have continued to make arrests in the Gardens where some still gather despite rules introduced earlier this week to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
People are being told to stay at home and only leave to shop for 'basic necessities', for medical reasons, to care for someone or to go to work where 'absolutely necessary'.
Gatherings of more than two people are banned.
However, Piccadilly Gardens has continued to be a focus for antisocial behaviour, with groups of people gathering in the warm weather to drink.
The chief constable said told Mike Sweeney's BBC Radio Manchester show: "Everybody knows that Piccadilly Gardens has been a hotspot for homelessness, for drug dealing and for some of the crime issues that we find as a real challenge.
"Sadly that has continued and is exacerbated in some way because everybody else isn't there. It's far more visible, what's going on.
"So I've asked my team to work with Manchester city council today to close Piccadilly Gardens.
"Why can't we use Heras fencing, get it all closed down? It's a public space. Other public spaces are closed. It will disperse some of the issue. It will enable us to deal with crime in a different way because we can't be running to Piccadilly Gardens every two minutes arresting people."
Following the comments, city centre spokesman Coun Pat Karney said: "We've got an emergency situation which requires emergency action. The council agreed that it should be fenced off."
It is not yet clear when the area will be closed.
