Anti-social curbs are paying big dividends

3:26pm Thursday 6th March 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Five people have been arrested as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Ramsbottom.

Operation Gallipoli was the latest in a series of operations to be carried out in the area and was set up to reassure residents worried by young people being a nuisance, drinking alcohol and taking drugs.

The initiative involved high visibility policing in hotspot areas, visits to licensed premises and test purchases being carried out with trading standards officers. Extra funding for the crackdown was provided by BurySafe.

The operation ran between January 25 and February 15 and over four consecutive Friday evenings. Five arrests were made for public order and drugs offences, 79 people were stopped and checked and a large quantity of cans and bottles of alcohol were seized.

Persistent offenders received home visits by police and Six Town Housing officials and other young people caught behaving anti-socially had letters sent to parents or carers and their details passed on to other agencies such as the Anti-social Behaviour Team.

Latest figures show there has been a 20 per cent decrease in reported incidents of anti-social behaviour in the Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor area from April 2007 to February of this year compared to the previous 12 month period.

Inspector Bryn Williams, from Bury West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We take the issue of anti-social behaviour very seriously. Underage drinking plays a big part in the occurrence of anti-social behaviour and so as well as patrolling the streets, we have focused efforts into working with local licensed premises to make it harder for under 18s to buy alcohol. Operation Gallipoli has also sent out a strong message to those adults who think they are above the law when buying alcohol for underage drinkers - the penalty for doing this could be a fine of up to £5,000.

"We will continue to run operations of this kind to ensure that residents can enjoy a good quality of life in the area."

To report incidents of anti-social behaviour or criminal damage, call police on (0161) 872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.