Booze-busters hit the streets

New team to target bad behaviour and teenage drinkers

Yobs beware . . . a team determined to stamp out anti-social behaviour hit Oldham’s streets today.

The Challenge and Support Team’s hit squad will take to four wheels in their new people carrier to spot young people drinking or annoying local people.

And after seizing alcohol and getting the youths to go home, the team will help to support the young people and their families, and challenge them to change their ways.

The new team, made up of police, community safety officers, the anti-social behaviour co-ordinator and Connexions youth service, were presented with the keys to their Vauxhall Meriva at Chadderton Town Hall, their new base.

Cabinet member for People and Communities, Councillor Rod Blyth, said: “This team will allow us to improve the quality of life for residents.

“In particular we will be able to reduce the anti-social behaviour and crime that blights so many lives.

“It will also allow us to identify those who need support in changing their behaviour.”

Martin O’Connell, Oldham Community Safety Organiser, explained: “We take the names and addresses of young people and tell them to get off home. Most do.

“But some young people are drinking quite heavily and we seize the alcohol and go and see their parents.

“In 99.9 per cent of cases, once mum and dad get to know what their children are doing they deal with the situation.

“But for 0.1 per cent we see if their families need support in coping with young people.

“We deal with them through civil courts so that they are not criminalised, and there are Acceptable Behaviour Contracts for their families.

“Some people need to change and amend their behaviour. Other people will see the vehicle in its new livery and be reassured that we are dealing with problems.”

The vehicle has been supplied by the Oldham Partnership made up of public, private and voluntary groups.