Crime is falling, but yobs get a warning

Town Centre partnership report

CRIME levels in the town centre are plummeting, with incidents in a number of key areas down on last year.

Police have recorded a 33 per cent decrease in serious wounding this November compared to November last year.

Burglary is down 72 per cent, from 11 burglaries in November last year to three in the same period this year, while theft from the person has dropped 58 per cent, from 12 incidents in November last year to five incidents this November.

Theft from a motor vehicle has also decreased, after police launched a major crackdown named Operation Linstead.

The operation saw additional police patrol hotspot areas, mainly in car parks in the town centre, make a number of arrests and offer crime prevention advice to motorists.

But there was bad news in a minority of areas, with incidences of affray up 100 per cent, from four last year to eight this November.

The theft of motor vehicles was also up 33 per cent and the supply and possession of drugs has jumped by 47 per cent.

The meeting was told that the town centre is also becoming rowdier on Thursday nights and the police are looking to tackle this with increased patrols and further work with pub and club licensees.

Town centre revellers who are looking to hit the bars this festive season have also been assured that there will be extra police support on December 19, Christmas Eve, December 27 and 28 and on New Year’s Eve.

The Spindles and Town Square shopping centre manager Mike Flanagan said: “The message has to go out to people who come and visit Oldham to shop and have a good time, as well as to those who want to come and cause trouble, that we won’t mess about.
“We are ready for most things and work very closely with the police to crack down on trouble-makers.”


Festive success

OLDHAM’S bumper Christmas celebrations have been a hit with shoppers, as the town centre turned itself into a winter wonderland.

Each year shoppers are treated to an action-packed Christmas calendar and a recent ice rink was very successful, with the rink being packed to capacity over the entire weekend.

Oldhamers have already enjoyed a Victorian weekend and a reindeer parade and the town centre will be teeming with activity again this weekend with a music spectacular, including the traditional brass bands and the more unusual sounds of the Urban Gypsies.

Town Centre manager Mark Lester is already looking ahead to possibilities for next Christmas, so that Oldhamers can be sure of getting something even bigger and better for Christmas 2009.