Looking for trouble

Reporter: Robbie Gill
Date published: 14 October 2014


Robbie Gill joins police, cadets and PCSOs on Operation Tuscan

Operation Tuscan is a borough-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour, targeting specific hotspots and problem areas.

Police monitor incidents of anti-social behaviour and talk to Homewatch co-ordinators to decide which areas to patrol. Hotspot areas include Hollins Road, Higher Memorial Park in Failsworth, Royton precinct, Shaw market, Tandle Hill Park and Oasis Academy.

Inside the police van with me for the evening were PCSO Suzanne Hudson and PC Mark Dyer, plus police cadets Kathryn Hornby and Matthew Haughton and fire and rescue volunteers Lukasz Krause and Simon Mallitt.

The first stop was Royton precinct, where youths have been known to climb on shop roofs and throw eggs and stones at passers-by.

A group of hooded youths prowled the streets when we arrived but soon dispersed on sight of the van - though another large group soon arrived.

The presence of the police can have a dual impact, according to PC Dyer. While it often deters potential offenders, it can sometimes encourage youths to play up — particularly groups of boys.

Next stop was Higher Memorial Park, Failsworth, where groups have been known to meet, drink alcohol and cause problems for nearby residents.

This time there was to be nobody around, save a few shadows skulking through the middle of the park. But this wasn’t the last I would see of this area.

We set off for Hollinwood, where reports had come in of youths throwing stones at cars from a motorway bridge and causing disturbances on Hollins Road.

When we pulled up on Hollins Road I was surprised by the number of young people - some of whom couldn’t have been older than nine - out on the street.

Some banged on the van and shouted through the open windows until PC Dyer jumped out. They quickly dispersed.

We visited a park round the corner, where around 50 youths were gathered, before checking on Leicester Road, Hollinwood Metrolink stop, and McDonald’s on Broadway before returning to Higher Memorial Park. Reports had come in of fireworks being set off.

When we arrived a large gathering of loud young girls soon cooperated with officers and calmed down.

Fireworks could be heard going off but there was no sign of whoever was lighting them.

The fight against anti-social behaviour has been aided by new powers brought in this month, allowing officers to ban individuals from specific areas for up to 48 hours.

It’s probably unrealistic to think the police can eradicate ASB entirely - but it was clear from my evening with Tuscan that the crackdown is helping to reduce the problem.