Community backlash against drug scourge
Reporter: Janice Barker
Date published: 28 April 2010
More than 300 take to streets in protest
Drug-dealers and burglars were told to stay away from Coldhurst, Westwood and Chadderton when residents took to the streets for a protest march.
More than 300 locals demanded an end to rising number of burglaries and drug problems near their homes.
They suspect drug addicts are responsible for thefts of significant amounts of cash, jewellery and important documents such as passports in the last few months.
Community activist Nanu Miah, from Peace on the Streets, a voluntary organisation which campaigns for community harmony, said: “We are fed up with drug dealers in our community.
“They are killers who take people’s lives by getting young people hooked on drugs.
“They destroy lives and families and we want them off the streets.”
The marchers, who met outside Robin Hill youth centre in Coldhurst and then marched around the area, called on the community to support police and give any information they have on known drug dealers or if they see any drug dealing activity in their area.
They also called for the police to act more quickly against drug dealers and speed up investigations into burglaries.
Babul Miah, from Westwood, said: “The mosques need to keep the community informed of any known criminal activity, and parents need to play a more active part in their children’s lives.”
Salik Miah, from Coldhurst, added: “It’s a parent’s worst nightmare to find their child hooked on drugs. We all have young children and we want them to live in a drug-free community. That is why we have come together to unite against drug dealing.”
Oldham East Neighbourhood inspector Alan Humphries said: “Where the community supports us and gives us information, we can act very swiftly — for example, the crack house closure on Featherstall Road, which was neighbourhood police working with partners and with the support of the community.
“The Coldhurst area has seen an overall decrease in levels of crime, but it is fair to say there have been problems with some types of crime, often related to the drugs issue.
“Provide us with information and we will do everything in our power to target people who commit crime and do drugs.”
