Prostitutes and gangs of youths are making life a misery for families in Bolton. 

The concerns were raised at Thursday night’s Great Lever Area Forum, at Clarendon Primary School, on Recreation Street.

The forum heard prostitutes have moved from the Coe Street area into residential areas around Heywood Park such as Lever Drive and St Mark’s Walk.

It’s thought this may be down to the success of police tactics driving them from established ‘red light zones’ into areas where people live.

One resident who spoke at the meeting said prostitutes had been seen touting for business during daylight hours near schools.

He said: “We have prostitutes coming around here and in this particular area we have the school, it endangers school pupils, there’s a risk there.”

He also queried why CCTV cameras had been removed from the park, adding: “We can’t have prostitution in this area, it’s just common sense, it’s not rocket science I’m talking here.”

PC Andy Sharkey said police worked with Urban Outreach to direct prostitutes to Sexual Offences Awareness course but would respond to reports of them moving into the area and urged residents to report any activity.  

But he added: “If you over-patrol an area you are only ever able to scare it away, not combat it effectively.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said residents lives were being blighted by anti-social behaviour committed by gangs of youths.

The idea of installing cameras in Heywood Park was again mooted, but PC Sharkey said he was wary of moving a ‘chaotic anti-social behaviour problem’ from the park into residential areas.

However one resident told the forum that the issue had already spread to the surrounding streets.

She said: “That happens already where I live. There are gangs constantly hanging around they come in cars  take all our parking spaces, and sit there drinking and smoking. 

"They sit along the footpath, go into the park , then come back and sit along the footpath again.
And she added: “There’s a constant banging of footballs all night – and I mean all night – and youths shouting and bawling.”

Neighbourhood manager John Pye said there was already a ‘heavy focus’ on the park and surrounding area and the ward’s councillors were continuing to invest in ‘sustainable initiatives’ to address its problems.