9,000 police callouts to in just two years
POLICE have been called out to McDonald’s restaurants in Greater Manchester almost 9,000 times in just two years amid reports of sexual assault, robbery, drugs and violence.
Shocking figures revealed that since January 2016, more than 6,300 incidents and 2,600 crimes have been logged by GMP where the address of the call contained the name of the fast food giant.
There have been mass brawls, assaults and criminal damage.
Staff have been verbally abused and spat at and customers car-jacked and stolen from.
The data, which was released by GMP following a Freedom of Information Request, shows that almost a third of those crimes took place within the north Manchester policing area.
Figures show police were called to deal with more than 700 youthrelated incidents in those two years – the majority being logged as ‘rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour’.
The data did not state which of the 2,600 crimes – which happened inside or around the immediate area of the fast food chain – involved children.
In February 2016, nine young troublemakers were banned from six McDonald’s restaurants across Stockport for six months following a spate of anti-social behaviour.
The kids, aged between 13 and 16, verbally abused staff, intimidated other customers, used foul language and damaged table tops, police said.
The following month in Chorlton, restaurant staff were forced to hire security after yobbish schoolchildren caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and abused customers.
Bosses said the measure was a ‘last resort’ following months of antisocial behaviour in which youths set fire to seats, pelted food at customers and stole fire extinguishers.
At the height of the problems, a 40-strong gang of pupils went into the restaurant and wreaked havoc, abusing and threatening ‘anyone and everyone’ who entered.
But it is not just children causing problems.
In February last year, a shocking video emerged showing a mass brawl erupting inside a Stockport McDonald’s, which even spilled into the kitchen area.
Several months later in Wigan, a man was slashed on the arm during a brawl involving around six to eight people.
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our staff and customers is of the utmost importance to us.
“We therefore take a zero tolerance approach when it comes to crime and anti-social behaviour in and around our restaurants. We work very closely with the local police and community to tackle any ongoing issues.”