Police move to calm Glitter fears

PUBLICAN Julian Taylor, who is putting the finishing touches to a new community website for villagers to discuss and share information of a wide variety of local issues

A police chief has stepped in to calm a community’s fears of reports that convicted paedophile Gary Glitter was house-hunting in Saddleworth.

The move comes after agents believed to represent Glitter (real name Paul Gadd) had been refused accommodation at a hotel and had contacted a local estate agent seeking to view houses in secluded locations.

Chief Supt Caroline Ball, head of Oldham police division, said: “While we are not able to comment on individual cases, we can reassure the local community that protecting people is our main priority.

“We work closely with the probation and prison service to prevent re-offending and as part of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) dangerous offenders, including those convicted of sexual and violent offences are rigorously managed and monitored by specially trained staff.

“We are continuously striving to improve the safety of the community we live in and I would ask anyone who has real concerns to contact police,” she added.

Meanwhile, villagers who launched The United Republic of Saddleworth page on the social networking site Facebook to highlight fears over Glitter’s possible visit, are planning a dedicated Internet site to give people a chance to air their concerns on the former pop star and other community issues. More than 1,500 people have already joined the Glitter debate on Facebook with the number growing by an average of 20 each hour.

Publican Julian Taylor, a father of four, is putting the final touches to the new Internet site with his friend Jarrod Lowe, from Uppermill.

Mr Taylor, who runs The Church Inn, said: “The response has been absolutely amazing. We seemed to have touched a nerve in the community. We want to create a live forum.

“We have been stopped in the street by people who are congratulating us on what we have done. It’s very gratifying. The site would be used by the community as a base for discussing and sharing information of a wide variety of local issues.

“However, I will be consulting with the police and other agencies, before it goes live. We are not planning anything irresponsible.”

He added: “We want to extend the site to cover much wider issues of people’s safety and concerns about all aspects of living and working in our villages. For example, if roads were blocked by accidents or bad weather, people could put the information on the site.

Mr Lowe (39), who has two children, said “We will ensure the future of local children are safe and look at much wider concerns in the area too.”

Mike Rooke, secretary of the Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association, said: “Initiatives that heighten community awareness to assist crime prevention can provoke positive discussion.

“However, our experience of running an extensive e-mail network for our villages suggests those setting up a United Republic of Saddleworth should seek advice from police, as items posted on the Net can sometimes foster crime or give misleading information. Care also needs taking to avoid falling foul of the Data Protection Act,” he added.

Glitter (65) was jailed for four years at Bristol Crown Court in 1999 after admitting to having a computer collection of 4,000 hardcore photographs of children being abused.

He was convicted again in Vietnam in 2006 for molesting two local girls aged 11 and 12, and served 27 months in prison.

Villagers with concerns should ring police on: 0161- 856 5050.