Police send parents plea over ‘feral’ yobs

PARENTS are being asked to check on their children as police say a ‘feral’ group of ‘yobbish’ youths are plaguing businesses in a town centre.

Officers say they are currently encountering a ‘high number’ of reports of antisocial behaviour in Middleton Gardens, where there are a number of pubs, takeaway restaurants and other shops.

Youths have gone into shops, damaging stock and abusing staff, police say.

A plant pot was thrown at a shop worker on one occasion, according to officers in the town.

Police say they are now scouring CCTV footage and working with local schools to identify the culprits. But they are also asking parents who think their children may be hanging around in Middleton Gardens to have a word with them.

In a post on the GMP Middleton Facebook page, officers said: “Your help please ..... Middleton Town Centre is currently experiencing a high number of reports regarding Anti Social Behaviour (or rather YOBBISH behaviour) being caused by a large group of youths that are running in and out of shops such as Tesco, Subway, McDonald’s to name a few.

“They are entering these shops as a group and being abusive to staff and customers as well as throwing stock around.

“One police officer who has encountered the group recently has described them as feral have no doubt that some people reading this will be parents of these youths and will be shocked to see what they are getting up to, however, we have CCTV footage of the group and are currently working with the local schools to identify them.

“We don’t think this process will take too long.

“We are also working closely with local housing authorities and Rochdale council, and should this behaviour not stop, then they could look to take tenancy action where appropriate to their residents and or look for injunctions. If you think your child may be hanging around in large groups in and around Middleton Gardens, please have a word with them.”