Safety action week in Kirkholt

Kirkholt officers with Councillor Colclough, Fire Service volunteers and local resident Sheila Noakes outside the police post.

The Kirkholt Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) has held a week of action to encourage residents to stay safe as the night draw in.

Over the week police community support officers (PCSOs) handed out timer switches across the estate -which can be used to deter burglars by turning lights and radios on when people are out.

The week of action also saw police visiting different neighbourhoods in Kirkholt and establishing whether local residents would support a Home Watch scheme in their area. And a security advice surgery was held.

The week was made possible in part by funding from councillors Dale Mulgrew and Pat Colclough, who provided £1,000 to pay for the timer devices.

Police are now aiming to spread the safety messages even further afield by visiting Home Watch schemes in other parts of Balderstone and Kingsway.

Sgt Craig Howarth, of the Rochdale South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We are pleased with how receptive the community were to our work in Kirkholt last week, and would like to thank the councillors for funding the timers.

“With darker nights now upon us we are encouraging residents to go all out to beat burglars by remembering the alarm, locks and lights security message.”

Councillor Pat Colclough, said: "It was great to be able to work with local officers to deliver this week of action for the Kirkholt community.

“It was also encouraging to see police out and about talking to residents and asking for their support in keeping their community safe.

“I was pleased to be able to support this project by securing some funding."