Anti-social behaviour kept off the streets

Chief Inspector Nadeem Mir

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Hundreds of young people have jumped aboard a youth bus and kick started multi sport get fit games as part of a programme designed to keep anti-social behaviour off the streets during Ramadan.

Operation Ramadan, now in its fourth year and unique to Rochdale, sees police and youth services hit the streets around mosques to reassure communities and engage teenagers in positive activities at a time when large numbers of young people are out on the streets.

The teams work closely together with the police signposting young people to the youth workers who extended the provision until early hours of the morning throughout the month of Ramadan, and set up activities quickly where the police identified a need.

This could include using youth centres, community rooms at the Mosque, dispatching the mobile youth bus and setting up football games.

If the youth workers pick up on incidents while they’re out and about, they radio the police, who dispatch officers straight away.

Councillor Sultan Ali, Cabinet Member for Strengthening Communities at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “One of the reasons our borough has stayed united and strong during tough times is because we work so well with our partners, including the police. By working together we have built strong relationships with young people during challenging times and this paid dividends during Ramadan.

"I’m proud of our youth service who have worked late into the night and of the young people who have worked with them.”

Nadeem Mir, Chief Inspector at the Greater Manchester Police Rochdale Division, said: “Operation Ramadan is not only about reducing anti–social behaviour, it also brings communities together. Our officers have been breaking fast with the Imams.

"The feedback from the community has been really positive and the benefits of this kind of approach will reap benefits long after Ramadan has finished.”

Operation Ramadan is part of Safe4Summer, a Greater Manchester wide campaign to keep anti-social behaviour down over the summer months by increasing police patrols in key areas and providing a huge range of activities for young people.