Police tighten estate clampdown after Halloween riot
A POLICE crackdown on yobs running riot in Stockport was ramped up after ‘25 youths’ terrorised Brinnington.
The gang of troublemakers shot fireworks at homes, set wheelie bins and fence panels alight, and hurled abuse at residents on Northumberland Street.
Cops and firefighters who arrived at the scene at 8.20pm on Halloween night were then pelted with ‘objects.’
In the aftermath, a dispersal order was placed on the area but police extended the order to cover the entirety of Brinnington for last weekend to head off more anti-social behaviour.
Bosses in GMP’s Stockport division condemned the disorder as ‘totally unacceptable’ and have vowed that plans are in place to avoid a repeat.
“What happened last weekend from a small group of people was totally unacceptable and we will find the individuals responsible,” said Inspector Ian Ashenden, from GMP’s Stockport central local policing team before the weekend.
“We are putting robust plans in place this weekend to ensure there is no repeat and to allow law-abiding people to enjoy their evenings.
“We will have extra officers on patrol throughout the weekend with a large presence on both Friday and Saturday nights.
“The dispersal order allows our officers to engage with people and ask them to leave the area if they are causing members of the public harassment, alarm or distress. If they return, they risk committing a criminal offence and being arrested.
“Even though the majority of our Officers will initially be based in Brinnington, our plans are flexible and officers can be deployed to other areas of Stockport if needed.”
The order came into force from 4pm on Friday for 48 hours and was in response to the Halloween disturbances, the force said.
A Dispersal Order gives police officers the power to ask groups of people to leave the area. Those who are acting anti-socially can face arrest or will be returned to their home address.
Speaking after Halloween night, one terrified woman said: “They’ve taken my fence, and thrown fireworks at my home – to the point where we’ve had to move the cars from the house,” the woman said.
“The experience was quite scary to be honest.
“I was literally on the phone and thought ‘what’s that noise in my garden’?
“It was someone taking my bins, so I walked outside and asked if they wouldn’t mind bringing them back.
“Obviously you get hurled a bit of abuse, and they threw a firework towards my window so you could see the sparks from that.
“They set a fire in the middle of the road.”
Another man, who also asked to stay anonymous, said that he has had a similar experience to the woman’s, with his wheelie bin being stolen and set alight when he first moved in six years ago.
Officers are still appealing for information to identify those involved in the disturbances on 31 October.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting incident 3221 of 31/10/21.
Alternatively, details can be passed via our online live webchat function at www.gmp. police.uk.
Reports can also be made, anonymously, via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.