Campaign for longer hours at Heywood Police Station

Heywood North Liberal Democrat Councillor Peter Rush is stepping up his campaign for longer opening hours at Heywood Police Station on Adelaide Street.  Peter first raised the issue at a Full Council Meeting of Rochdale Borough Council.  Peter has written to local police bosses demanding action following an escalation in crime in Heywood.

Heywood Police Station is currently open from 9-5pm – Monday to Saturday and closed on a Sunday.  Councillor Rush said: “I have been contacted by a number of Heywood residents rightly concerned that our police station is not open long enough.  It seems absolute lunacy that our station closes its doors to the public after office hours.  Unfortunately, crime doesn’t stop at this time and I hope GMP listen to our concerns and start providing the full time service that Heywood people deserve.  The nearest police station open 24 hours is Rochdale in the Town Centre, miles away from Heywood.

“It seems that when it comes to accessible policing Heywood is short-changed when it comes to resources.  In Manchester there are a number of Police Stations open 24 hours a day.  Harpurhey Police Station is open till 9pm on Friday and Saturdays that would be a start – at the end of the day Heywood folk pay the same in Council Tax contributions.  We should receive a better service – I appreciate that resources are stretched but in the light of the increase in violent crime it is high time the ‘office worker’ hours are reviewed.”

Councillor Rush is also backing the long-term Liberal Democrat policy of bringing back the 01706 number for policing in Heywood and Rochdale.  He said: “I know that Councillor Barbara Todd has raised this at Police Authority Meetings.  Greater Manchester needs to show a bigger commitment to localised policing by bringing back a local number.  Heywood people complain about lack of police response and people tell me they don’t bother to call the police, as the staff don’t have the local knowledge.  A change back to our local number would help to bring a change to local people’s confidence."