Day of Action Tackles Crime and Grime

A day of action by Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership has helped to make Heywood town centre and the Angel Meadows estate a ‘cleaner, safer and more inviting place to live and work’.

On Friday, February 7, teams from the Rochdale Borough Council, police, housing associations and community and volunteer groups worked together to tackle crime and grime in the area by combatting issues such as bin fires, fly-tipping and rubbish, tenancy breaches, underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. Police and community safety officers also talked to residents to gather intelligence on crimes and provided practical security and safety advice.

Councillor Sultan Ali, Cabinet Member for Strengthening Communities, said: “This day of action has shown the community in Heywood that we taking all forms of crime and anti-social behavior very seriously and are working together with our partners to make the area a cleaner, safer and more inviting place to live and work.”

Activities on the day included:

• Walk about the Magic Market by Councillor Ali, Chief Inspector John Taylor of Rochdale Division and His Worship The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Peter Rush to speak to traders;
• Volunteers from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) cycled round the town centre looking for and reporting hazards;
• Police undertook truancy sweeps, returning pupils to school and informing parents;
• Safety talks in St Joseph’s Playgroup;
• Police fitted car number plates with anti-theft screws at Morrison’s car park ;
• GMFRS offered free home fire risk assessments and smoke alarms;
• Community walkabout on Angel Meadows estate with Community Safety Officers, Police, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Police, Environmental Management, Renaissance Drug & Alcohol Service and ward councillors;
• Clearing of grot spots and fly tipping;
• Removal of offensive graffiti from Heady Hill Park;
• Information and advice at St Joseph’s Church by Rochdale Borough Housing, GMFRS, Citizens Advice Bureau, Renaissance Drug & Alcohol Service, Community Safety, Carers’ Resource, Healthwatch, Rochdale Boroughwide User Forum, Blue Orchid business start-up support;
• Youth Service’s ‘Where It’s At’ bus provided youngsters with entertainment in the evening;
• Checks with licensees to make sure they were selling alcohol in a safe and responsible manner.

Chief Inspector for Partnerships, John Taylor, of Rochdale’s Division, added: “The public can be one of best tools in fighting crime as they know what is happening in their own areas. Thank you to those who came out to talk to our officers of their concerns about the area.”

Any person who has concerns can contact the police non-emergency number on 101, report crimes anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or call 999 in an emergency.