11:57am Tuesday 29th January 2008
By Staff Reporter
POLICE officers predict further success in the fight against anti-social behaviour in Ramsbottom with a new operation codenamed Gallipoli.
Four extra officers have been drafted in from other parts of Bury to patrol Ramsbottom on Friday nights over the next month and keep tabs on groups of young people drinking in the streets.
For the first time in Ramsbottom, officers plan to use new powers that allow them to ban anyone over 16 years of age from a specified area for up to 48 hours without the use of a dispersal order.
Automatic dispersal powers were granted under section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006.
The new operation, which will run every Friday from 5pm, will focus primarily on the town centre, the Nuttall Park area, Bolton Road and Peel Brow.
Inspector Bryn Williams said: "The intention is to keep up the momentum with regards to tackling anti-social behaviour in Ramsbottom.
"As the new wave of 15 and 16-year-olds start coming into Ramsbottom drinking on a Friday night we want to get to know who they are so we can take preventative action and discuss any issues with them and their parents before they develop into long-term problems.
"We have the powers to direct anyone aged 16 or over to leave a particular area for up to 48 hours if we have reason to believe they have been involved in alcohol-related crime."
He added: "Anyone who knows their First World War history might think the operation has been given a rather unfortunate name but we believe it will be very successful in further reducing anti-social behaviour in Ramsbottom."
The Battle of Gallipoli in the First World War saw the Allies suffer huge casualties trying to invade the Ottoman Empire.
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.burytimes.co.uk