Body cameras idea to curb gang trouble

Police may use body cameras to curb anti-social behaviour in Greenfield.

The village has become a hot-spot for problems with gangs of marauding youths throwing stones at houses, cars and frightening locals.

Initially, outbreaks of trouble were confined to Friday evenings, but worried villagers, including young mothers and elderly people, told the packed meeting that trouble is now flaring on other nights.

One young mother said: “Things have got worse. The problems are the talk of the village.

“We are concerned about taking children out in the evenings.” One elderly woman said windows in houses and cars had been damaged by stone-throwing youths. “We really are frightened. Alcohol seems to be a big factor.”

Insp Danny Milovanovic, who heads the Saddleworth and Lees Neighbourhood policing team, said he was investigating fitting mini-cameras to officers’ body armour.

“It is just an idea,” he said. “Youths causing trouble don’t like to be filmed. Footage taken by the camera could be shown to them and their parents.”

The inspector said the number of officers patrolling the village had been increased in recent weeks.

In some cases, youths had been taken to the police station and held until they were collected by parents. Officers had also escorted troublemakers out of the village on buses.

Investigations into several incidents are on-going, but the inspector added that not all the troublemakers were Saddleworth youths.

He said he and his officers were working with other agencies to divert the gangs into taking interest in community-related activities including a wide range of sports.

During the meeting police officers left to investigate after a car was damaged by stone-throwers. The culprits had run away.

The meeting also discussed poor lighting, potholed roads and flooding.