Safe4Summer campaign in full swing

Rochdale’s Safe4Summer campaign in full swing

This year’s safe4summer campaign is well underway, with agencies across the borough working together to ensure everyone has a safe and peaceful summer.

The campaign sees local authorities, fire services and the police work together to make sure there are exciting activities on offer for young people, while at the same time reassuring local residents who are concerned about anti-social behaviour with increased enforcement activity.

Now in its fifth year, Safe4Summer has an impressive track record in Rochdale, resulting in a drop in the number of anti-social behaviour reports to police from 4,949 in the summer of 2013 to 4,335 last year, a 12 per cent reduction.

There was also a 25 per cent reduction in reports of youth-related anti-social behaviour, with the number dropping from 694 in 2013 to 518 last year.

Across the borough, a huge number of activities have been put in place for young people, including sports sessions, trips out, cookery classes, fishing and camping.

The council’s public protection team has stepped up its regular test purchase exercises to ensure that shops are not selling cigarettes and alcohol to youngsters.

Police patrols have also increased in hotspot areas and agencies are using all powers available to them, including dispersal orders and injunctions, to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

Sessions delivered in seven schools before the summer break also taught around 1,950 young people about how to keep themselves safe during the holidays, particularly around open water where diving in to cool off on a hot day can have tragic consequences.

Councillor Daalat Ali, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Most young people in our borough are extremely well behaved, but the long holidays can lead to boredom and that’s when young people are more susceptible to getting involved in anti-social behaviour, which blights our communities. By combining a full summer programme with increased enforcement we can ensure that everybody has a safe and peaceful summer this year.”