Middleton crime and grime blitz in full swing

Middleton crime and grime blitz got under way today with over 30 local agencies working to address community safety issues on Hollin estate, to make it a safer and more enjoyable place for people to live.

Over seven days, police and council enforcement officers will be part of operations designed to help catch criminals, deter crime and punish those who ignore the law.

They’ve got plans to carry out major clean-ups as part of Middleton’s crime and grime blitz (17-23 May 2010) as well as rounding up teen street drinkers and introducing a new ‘No Cold Calling’ zone into the area.

During the week of action taking place this week (17-23 May 2010) there will be:

• More police on patrol, particularly on weekend evenings
• Less litter, dog fouling, graffiti and fly-tipping
• A crackdown on antisocial behaviour and youth nuisance
• Lots more crime prevention advice and activity taking place
• A Community Payback clean-up

Eric Holliday, Middleton’s Community Safety Officer at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We know that if a place looks nice people feel safer. We’ve arranged for the probation service to carry out a Community Payback clean-up, this is where local offenders will carry out supervised yet demanding work as part of their punishment whilst wearing high-visibility, orange jackets marked Community Payback. Offenders will be made to clean up the rubbish, cut back the greenery and do some heavy gardening work on land on Tintern Road. Their clean-up will also be designed to help reduce crime in the area, for example cutting back overgrown shrubbery makes an area more exposed deterring lots of criminal activities and antisocial behaviour.

“'No Cold Calling' zones help to discourage cold callers from pestering residents with unwanted visits. The properties on Hollin Green have been identified as an area of the estate that would benefit from being part of a zone due to the number of elderly and vulnerable residents living there. We’ll be collecting names of support throughout the week to set up the zone in the following months. Hopefully these initiatives will help residents feel safer.”

In the meantime, the council’s youth service are hoping to encourage more young people to take part in local youth clubs and leisure activities taking place on the estate in the evenings and at weekends, whilst teen street drinkers will be given a lesson in responsible drinking by alcohol advisors from Early Break.

Inspector Gary Hall of Middleton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “There’s lots of things planned for Middleton’s first ever crime and grime blitz, the Community Payback clean-ups and the no cold calling scheme are just two initiatives planned for the week of action. I’m confident we can make a big difference in small space of time with all our partners’ action focussing on Hollin estate. Hopefully our crime and grime blitz will reassure local people that we’re committed to tackling the problems and the issues that matter to them most by working in partnership to achieve better results for everyone.

“There’ll also be lots of opportunities for local people to get helpful and practical advice on how to reduce the risks of becoming a victim of crime, report different types of crime and get involved in making their community safer.”

Here’s a reminder of what opportunities are available for local people to get involved with:

Monday Activity: 11 + youth club for girls – join with friends or make new ones here and take part in games, activities and plus much more.
Time: 5:45pm -18:45pm, Location: Surestart, Tintern Road

Tuesday Activity: Introducing teen street drinkers to their livers - Early Break will be rounding up young drinkers on the estate and giving them a lesson in responsible drinking.
Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm, Location: Tintern Road

Wednesday Activity: All aboard the youth bus – the council’s youth service will recruit and encourage more youngsters to take part in positive activities by attending youth clubs and leisure centres after school and at weekends.
Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm, Location: St Anne’s Academy

Thursday Activity: All aboard the youth bus – the council’s youth service will recruit and encourage more youngsters to take part in positive activities at youth clubs and leisure centres after school and at weekends.
Time: 3.00pm – 5.00pm, Location: St Anne’s Academy

Friday Activity: Calling all youths – kick start your weekend by getting active with your mates. Take part in our youth sport sessions.
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm, Location: Middleton Arena or Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm, Location: Cardinal Langley

Activity: Introducing teen street drinkers to their livers - Early Break will be rounding up young drinkers on the estate and giving them a lesson in responsible drinking.
Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm, Location: Hollin Estate

Saturday 
Activity: Safe plating – come and get your car registration plate fixed with anti-theft screws.

Activity: Cycle coding - come and get your bike stamped with your postcode to prove it belongs to you in case it ever gets stolen.
Time: 10.00am – 6.00pm, Location: Hollin Primary School

If you have a neighbourhood policing issues call your local neighbourhood policing team on 0161 856 8701 or email middletonpartnership@gmp.police.uk. If you would like to book a Home Fire Risk Assessment, where local firefighters will visit your home to install smoke alarms for free and offer life saving fire safety advice, pre-book your visit on 0800 555 815