CALLS FOR POLICE ACTION AFTER YOUTHS 'RUN RAMPAGE' ON THE HEIGHT - AGAIN

Members of the community have spoken out after a shocking increase of anti-social behaviour carried out by youths in and around Irlams 'o'th' Height.

We reported last week about gangs of youths on bikes causing traffic disruption and anti-social behaviour on the height, kids as young as ten have been reportedly pulling wheelies in front of traffic, damaging vehicles by colliding into them.

Since then a series of further events has prompted anger from the public who say that nothing seems to be being done to resolve the problems.

One lady we spoke to told us that she was in genuine fear of going out of an evening as there are gangs of youths numbering as many as 20-30 at a time roaming the streets.

On Friday evening, the windows of an elderly lady was almost smashed after youths threw what appears to have been a battered mars bar at it. The window is a single pane and almost shattered as the impact was so hard, the elderly resident was said to have been left petrified. 

Residents in the area have reported torrents of abuse from the gangs when confronting them about their actions. One elderly man told us how he was physically shoved by two older youths (15-17) as he returned from the shop, all he had done was ask them politely if they would move out of the way so he could get past, when they declined he tried to squeeze around them all and was pushed and jostled, almost loosing his footing and falling over.

In another incident a 31-year-old woman was called a wh*re among other unsavory things for simply asking a gang to move as they were waking her baby up with their screaming. When they refused, she threatened to call the police and was then met with further verbal abuse.

Not long after going inside they ran past her house banging on her doors and windows before running off towards Bolton road, it was only after they had gone she noticed that they spat all over her front door and window.

The situation is said to have gone from bad to worse over the past few weeks and we are told that many of the youths are not even from the area but are travelling there to meet up and congregate on places like the car park of the local Aldi store.

One lady we spoke to, who did not wish to be identified for fear or reprisals, said,

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"We have seen an increase in police patrols in the area, but it doesn't seemed to have deterred them one bit.

"It's become a nightly thing and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I have lived here for years and it has never been this bad.

"On Tuesday (17th September) my husband asked a small group of kids to move away from the house as they were leaning against his car, later that evening as he headed off to work he noticed that three of his tires were flat. Thankfully they were not punctured and the air had just been let out of them.

"My husband didn't want to go to work that evening as he was scared they may return to do something else whilst he wasn't there.

It really has become a problem and I think the police need to take action before its too late."

Meanwhile youths on bikes have also been seen riding up and down the one way system on King Street, when asked to move they have replied with 'lip and sarcasm'.

With dwindling resources available to the police it has become increasingly difficult to cover the entire city, cuts to police budgets have meant that they have struggled to be able to respond to all reports and some types of crime have to take priority over others. Although anti-social behaviour is something that the police take very seriously.

In the past, other areas including Walkden, Monton and Eccles have all experienced similar problems with unruly gangs of teens, an increased police presence has helped to disperse the problems.

Nonetheless, if you witness or are subjected to anti-social behaviour, if there is an immediate threat to you or your property, then you should contact the police. Most of these incidents are going un-reported as the victims say they feel they would only be ignored and they fear fueling further reprisals.

This is not the case, in order to prevent this then residents need to ensure that all incidents are logged so the police have clear record of what is going on. They can then better divert resources to deal with the problems. Sadly many are too scared of getting the authorities involved for fear that they would fuel more anti-social behaviour towards themselves.

Salford Council also has an anti-social behaviour team and incidents can be reported online via this link on the councils website.

If you live in social housing then your landlord will also be able to help.

It is important to stress however, that the vast majority of the youth in the City are respectful, polite and well behaved, this type of behaviour is being carried out by a tiny minority. It is also important to remember that this is not just a problem specific to Salford, it is happening across the whole North West and indeed across the country too. In just the past day or so, police have had to issue a dispersal order on nuisance teenagers who have been causing problems in Wilmslow.