‘Feral yobs’ plague town centre traders
PARENTS are being asked to check on their children as police say a ‘feral’ group of ‘yobbish’ youths are plaguing businesses in Middleton town centre.
Officers say they are currently encountering a ‘high number’ of reports of anti-social behaviour in Middleton Gardens, where there are a number of pubs, takeaway restaurants and other shops.
A dispersal order was issued on Tuesday night.
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, McDonalds 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.
“On one occasion a plant pot has been picked in and thrown into the chest of a staff member.
“Indeed, one Police Officer who has encountered the group recently has described them as FeralI (sic) 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 (sic) not stop, then they could look to take tenancy action where appropriate to their residents and or look for injunctions. We do not want to be criminalising children, but sadly, it seems that behind their parents backs, they are turning themselves this way. If you think your child may be hanging around in large groups in and around Middleton Gardens, please have a word with them and ask them to have a long think about their behaviour (sic).
“Should we have to detain any of these youths for offences or for how they are behaving, we will not be bringing them home, but will be contacting parents to come and collect them ....... the last thing you want just as you sit down to watch Ant and Dec on a Saturday night.
“Thank you for your assistance, and our apologies for highlighting what a very small part of the Middleton youth are doing.”
The dispersal order gives officers the power to remove and exclude people who they believe to be involved in violent crime or anti social behaviour from a designated location
If they return to that location within 48 hours it will leave them liable to arrest.