Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

‘Yob culture needs dealing with fast’

by Miles Skinner
16/ 4/2008

VANDALISM in Great Moor has spiralled out of control in recent months.

Councillors say criminal damage has reached ‘concerning and unacceptable levels’ while many residents fear for the safety of their property.

At a recent Area Committee meeting police revealed the number of incidents in March alone was up to 72 from 59 the same time last year.

Local hot spots for congregating youths have begun to become no-go areas for many, and a numbers of nearby homeowners complain of repeated vandalism to cars and homes as well as public property.

Stepping Hill councillor Maggie Clay said: "It’s causing a great deal of concern and we are making great efforts to deal with the vandalism and anti-social behaviour in certain areas.

"I spoke to one young couple who have, in a matter of weeks, suffered smashed windows at their house, a broken wing mirror and paint sprayed on their car. They were angry, but you can imagine how frightening it would be for older people."

Youths were recently reported as having threatened to firebomb houses.

Coun Clay added: "It’s one thing to be hanging around on the street corners - but quite another when their is vandalism on this scale."

Areas of particular concern include Boothby Street, Cherry Tree Lane and Islington Road, with Torkington Park’s Brook Street seen as the main base of troublemaking youths.

There has also been a spate of recent tyre-slashings on Moorland Road, Woodmoor Lane, following similar occurrences on Islington Road.

Coun Clay added: "We are working very closely with the police on this matter and are hoping to adopt a multi-agency approach."

After a recent yob rampage on Islington Road, one resident said: " I had a small child in bed whose safety I feared for.Somebody’s fence had been pulled apart and the contents thrown at my windows, and my neighbour’s wing-mirrors were also kicked off.This was a premeditated, motiveless attack on defenceless people and their property. These thugs and this yob culture needs dealing with fast because it is getting out of control.I am disgusted. Do these people have no remorse?"

Inspector Dermot Morrissey from Stockport East neighbourhood policing team said: "We have ongoing operations in place in Great Moor working together with partner agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.

"There is a rise in reports at weekends so we ensure extra officers are on patrol in key areas with members of the Anti-Social Behaviour Action and Youth Offending Teams.

"Early intervention is one of our main focuses, confiscating alcohol and drugs early in the evening before youths have had chance to use them, while at the same time gathering intelligence on key offenders.  We have also recently joined forces with British Transport Police to target potential trouble-makers travelling into the area via local trains and buses. However, this is not a problem that police can tackle alone so we have been working closely with Youth Services and the Great Moor community, including schools and parents to find alternative long-term activities for young people to occupy their time. I would like to reassure our local residents there are many initiatives in place to tackle anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. We take these incidents very seriously and I would ask people to contact the police with any issues they have, or if they see any offences taking place."

Most recent 2 of 3 user comments