Kick-off for team facing a challenge

NEW team . . . pictured at the launch (from left to right) are Sgt James Kenworthy (challenge team leader), Councillor Rod Blyth (Cabinet Member for People and Communities),Constable Cub, Josh Bell (Latic’s goalkeeper), Chaddy the Owl, Sam McConnell (support team leader) and Alan Hardy (Latics chief executive)

OLDHAM Council has launched its latest bid to tackle anti-social behaviour among young people.

The Challenge and Support Team made its debut at Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park ground with special guests Constable Cub and Chaddy the Owl, and it will be based at the Oldham Community Safety Unit in Chadderton Town Hall, Middleton Road.

It will be made up of youth offending service prevention staff, anti-social behaviour reduction officers, crime reduction officers and police officers.

The group will work with other organisations, including Latics, to reduce anti-social behaviour through identifying and working with those most at risk, and protect the community through support for victims and witnesses.

Cabinet Member for People and Communities, Councillor Rod Blyth, said: “The partnerships we have in Oldham are working hard to improve the quality of life for residents.

“In particular, we want to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime. We need to help those in real difficulty and give them support. This new team will do this.”

The team will challenge young people to improve their behaviour in the community by using existing measures such as education and intervention methods, together with warning letters, individual support orders, family acceptable behaviour contracts and, when appropriate, anti-social behaviour orders.

As well as challenging unacceptable behaviour, the team will also use support packages to encourage young people to change their lifestyles.

This will include the development of individually-tailored packages to ensure that local services work together to assess young people’s needs and to offer appropriate support.

The team builds on the successful Operation Owl, a joint operation to reduce the number of underage drinkers on Oldham’s streets.