BOLTON’S UKIP leader has written to the Home Secretary about policing in the town following a Special Report by The Bolton News.

Cllr Sean Hornby said the state of policing has deteriorated criticising police priorities.

In the letter, he asked Sajid Javid to instruct Greater Manchester Police and its Commissioner to restore Neighbourhood Policing to an “adequate” and “acceptable” level.

He wrote: “The public see that greater priority seems to be currently given to fashionable and politically correct fads of what is described loosely (and mostly incorrectly) as ‘hate crime’.”

This follows Monday’s Special Report on Bolton's crime hotspots which revealed that a street in Little Lever had the highest crime rate outside the town centre.

Third Avenue, in the Dove Bank Estate, had 139 crimes recorded over the period of a year from September 2017, the seventh highest in Bolton.

The Little Lever councillor told The Bolton News that he has argued for extra help and attention at the estate for a long time.

He discussed the issue with GMP Inspector Michael Reid two weeks ago but claims he was told that the crime rate on the estate is low.

Cllr Hornby blamed Bolton at Home, which manages properties in Third Avenue, for letting the properties without proper vetting procedures.

He said: “I have a great deal of affection for this estate. It was the estate I lived on when we had our first child back in 1985. It was also the area which got me interested in serving the community.

“Third Avenue has several blocks of flats and, whilst the majority of people in them are good tenants, they are living in fear due to youths being allowed to shelter in them by being let into the blocks by unruly tenants.”

He blamed red tape for delays in setting up a Residents’ Association for the estate. Meanwhile, a drop-in session for residents will take place on November 19.

Writing to the Home Secretary, he said that the public want a physical response to “local youths committing mayhem” through anti-social behaviour rather than police spending time on social media name-calling.

He said that Neighbourhood Policing is at an unacceptable level stating that only two PCSOs cover the Little Lever and Darcy Lever ward where more than 14,000 residents live.

A spokesperson for Bolton at Home said: “We don’t tolerate anti-social behaviour in our neighbourhoods. We are speaking with Cllr Hornby and others in the community to understand and address any concerns.

"We investigate thoroughly reports of antisocial behaviour made to us and take appropriate action, often in partnership with police and other agencies. Residents can report concerns about anti-social behaviour to us on 01204 32800. We urge residents to report any criminal activity directly to the police.”