Community spirit is alive and well

PCSO Christine Gee with residents Sandra and Patrick Whelan.

COMMUNITY spirit prevailed for a bunch of Chadderton neighbours who banded together to tackle trouble-causing teenagers.

When residents in Middleton Road realised they were being targeted by members of the same gang they decided to take action.

Over a period of a few months, the teen gang subjected homeowners to verbal abuse, smashed their windows, vandalised their cars, smashed bus stops and even staged arson attacks.

With the help of local PCSO Christine Gee, they set up a Home Watch scheme and logged every incident of anti-social behaviour.

Extra police patrols were organised and the youths were issued with warning letters about their behaviour. When the teens realised their every move was being monitored, the gang dispersed and incidents of anti-social behaviour plummeted.

Home Watch co-ordinator and Middleton Road resident Sandra Whelan said: “Everybody was suffering the same but no-one was talking about it or reporting it to the police. It was only when we all started to work together that we realised we could do something about it.

“It’s nice to know that community spirit is alive and kicking and it feels like my neighbours are now my friends.

“Christine has been brilliant and proved that PCSOs really are a vital link between the community and the police.”

Christine said: “It just goes to show that out of something so bad can come something brilliant.”