Cash for bikes to tackle antisocial behaviour in Middleton

Troublesome off-road bikers could soon find themselves chased by officers on electric mountain bikes, now police have been given the cash.

In the last few months, Middleton has been plagued by problem behaviour ranging from arson to off-road bikes causing a nuisance, according to politicians in the area. 

Local councillor Councillor Dylan Williams said this has been an issue for years in the area and has previously called on police to come down hard on these ‘vandals’.

The East Middleton councillor blamed these vandals for destroying Middleton Gardens in the town centre and King George’s Park in Moorclose back in June.

It was reported at the time that the gardens in the town centre, planted by council workers, had been ripped up and strewn across the centre square. 

Councillor Williams also claimed that successive fires at the park led to firefighters being called out to the area twice in the same day.

Now, in a bid to tackle these problems, Greater Manchester Police have applied to the Middleton Township Committee for £7,500 for new electric bikes to help tackle these problems. 

The committee granted the funds for three of the £2,500 bikes at the latest township meeting on 10 October.

In their application, GMP explained the ‘eMTBs’ would give them ‘a wider high visibility presence across Middleton’ and allow them to be ‘able to manoeuvre around with greater ease’.

GMP’s application for the funds read: “With the population in Middleton ever increasing and new housing estates being erected quickly, we are further stretched in terms of demand, and technology now being easier to access by criminals in the way of electric bikes specifically. 

“We have suffered a high volume of issues concerning these bikes across Middleton of recent and only by luck have we managed to stamp down on it somewhat. I am sure the residents of Middleton would prefer to see local PCSOs more visible out on bikes rather than in a vehicle and out of reach.

“With a new Neighbourhood Policing Model being implemented soon our numbers per team will be reduced, however coverage across our shift pattern increased and so being able to be more mobile would assist greatly.” 

At the meeting in Middleton Library, Councillor Williams questioned why the police can’t fund their own bikes and why they are asking council for the money.

The committee heard that this was in the interest of community safety, which is why they approved the funding.

It is not unusual for GMP to go to the township for funds, having been granted cash for initiatives and projects in 2017, 2018, 202 and 2021 previously, the meeting heard.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter