Men take law into own hands

Groups of men are going on twilight patrols in Westwood and Coldhurst to try to stem a rising tide of prostitution and drug dealing.

Fifty men take turns to patrol their local streets, moving kerb crawlers along and calling on suspected drug dealers.

They say their approach is to try to persuade perpetrators of the dangers and errors of their ways, rather than take direct action.

But police are unhappy about the patrols and had concerns about the residents’ safety.

Group leader Nanu Miah said: “There are sometimes 30 or 40 men involved, sometimes as many as 50. But we break down into smaller groups and fan out around the area.

“The police are making a lot of progress — but we think more can be done.

“We feel we are working in the same way and it is not just drugs and prostitution we are concerned with, but anti-social behaviour as well.

“We go to schools and mosques and show people the effects drug taking can have by showing pictures.

“We want to tell people that there is help available for young people whom we see as the victims.”

Chief Inspector Sarah Jones said: “Our West Oldham Neighbourhood Team will continue to work with the community to address their concerns.

“We are targeting drugs and prostitution in the Westwood and Coldhurst area through operations Globemaster and Derwent. Extra staff have been put into these areas.

“We have had a number of successful arrests for drugs and prostitution recently, including two for prostitution during an undercover operation last weekend.

“Our neighbourhood teams listen to the concerns that communities raise and work with them to solve problems in their area. This is why operations Derwent and Globemaster have been run and continue to run.

“We would not want anyone to put themselves in any danger by taking the law into their own hands and I would ask instead that they contact us, so that we can gather as much information as possible and address the issues that are causing concern.

“I would like to encourage anyone with concerns about crime to contact the West Oldham Neighbourhood Policing Team on 0161 856 8927 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 800 55 111. To report a crime to Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050.”

Former Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Abdul Jabbar said: “This issue has been raised at our area committee.

“Police are looking at it. The volume of trouble has decreased. But still there is a problem.
“I think we should be working with the police and hope we can work with the group to solve this issue.”