Horseback police join crackdown on yobbish behaviour
7:40am Monday 6th July 2009 in News
MOUNTED police were drafted into Farnworth’s trouble-plagued areas as part of a new crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
The officers on horse-back patrolled the areas between Long Causeway, Gladstone Road, Albert Road and Market Street to clear gangs of teenagers and young people off the streets on Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 8pm.
The operation started on July 1 and for the next six months a section of the town will be designated a police “dispersal zone” in a bid to rid the area of troublemakers.
The move comes after residents reported problems involving large groups of youths drinking alcohol and hanging about near Farnworth Open Market, off Brackley Street, and in the ASDA and Farm Foods car parks.
Creating a dispersal zone gives officers the powers to move along anyone under the age of 16 found gathering in groups of more than two and deemed to be causing a nuisance.
And any youths moved from the area are not allowed to return for 24 hours, or they can face further sanctions.
Sgt Steve Baldam said: “We've received feedback from members of the public that they would like to see more patrols in the area. Force wide resources are operating in our dispersal zone looking particularly at anti-social behaviour, public reassurance and high profile policing.
“We are very pleased the mounted unit has come down. They have a very good overview, especially in the park. We are aware there have been some minor issues which we want to cut out completely.”
schaudhari@the boltonnews.co.uk
