Officers ready to meet bus station ‘challenge’
POLICE have vowed to make Stockport’s brand new transport interchange and park a ‘toxic environment’ for would-be criminals and troublemakers
The £135 million bus station and Viaduct Park, the pocket park which sits on its roof, a key part of the £1 billion transformation of the town centre, were officially opened last week.
However, just one day later officers were called out to reports to reports of ‘anti-social youths.
Due to its central location there had already been fears amongst locals about it attracting yobs and ‘turning into Piccadilly Gardens’, which has been blighted by criminality for years.
To concide with its opening, officers flooded the streets of Stockport town centre.
A large number of both uniformed, mounted and plain-clothes officers were out speaking to the public as part of Operation Rimini, which was launched last summer to tackle shoplifting, antisocial behaviour and other forms of crime in and around the town centre and Edgeley.
Local GMP chiefs admitted the new facility is going to pose a ‘challenge’ but said it is one they will tackle head-on with ‘robust’ policing.
Sgt James Senior, from the Stockport Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “There are changes going on in Stockport, this is a massive regeneration area.
“And we need to make sure we’re staying ahead of that curve, make sure we are out and about challenging people who are coming to Stockport and causing anti-social behaviour and committing crime.
“Putting a park in the middle of a regeneration area, in the town centre, is going to attract certain people.
“Well we’re saying [to them] no, you’re not welcome.
“We’ll do all we can to support Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Viaduct Park. We want it to be a safe place for everyone to come. We want it to be a safe place for families to come.
“If you’re of a mind where you’re going to cause any anti-social behaviour, expect to be challenged and, when it’s unlawful... expect to be arrested.”
He added: “We knew it was coming. We had a bus station before and we were dealing with it then, and we’ll deal with it now.”
Sgt Senior said much of the anti-social behaviour in the town is committed by a small minority of people who are often known to them. And he said police want to make the town centre a ‘toxic environment’ for them.
He continued: “People will travel in because the town the centre has everything you need – shops, food outlets, the lovely park. It’s more accessible to the public.
“We’re going to get more people in, we’re going to get more footfall. We have to make sure we’re ready for that and we are with more bobbies on the ground.
“There are challenges all the way around Stockport. But misusing bus stations and parks is not a unique situation to Stockport. It’s national really.
“This is a challenge for us as it’s new. But we’re ready for that challenge and will take it on.”
British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for the policing of the town’s railway station, with the bus station under the remit of GMP’s Transport Unit.
Spt Rachael Harrison added: “Stockport is going through a massive regeneration and we’re really proud to be part of that.
“Operationally we policed Stockport before the new bus station, and we will police it afterwards.
“We are obviously aware of the fact this is a massive investment and it is going to attract some attention.
“And it is natural we will be giving it a bit more attention, as you would expect. But we don’t want to take away from any other areas.
“What I would say is don’t be alarmed when you see police have come as we are going to respond to incidents here, so it’s a good thing that we’re coming. We work with other parts of GMP, the transport unit and others, who do an amazing job.
“The top priority for me is making Stockport a place where people are safe and feel safe. So there’s a massive commitment from me and from Stockport GMP to meet that objective.
“We have our patrols who are out like they are today. And we will work with partners. I would also ask the public play their part in that as well as citizens.
“So when you’re seeing things that you’re not happy with, you’re not comfortable with, that’s not right, report it to us.
“As all that feeds into our information and intelligence so if we get more reports through, they will get picked up and its likely to get more attention.
“But if people are not contacting us to tell these things are happening it’s invisible to us so I really would encourage the public to report concerns to us.”
A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis in Friday’s day of action as part of Operation Rimini.
A large cannabis farm with around 100 plants was found at a former retail unit on Prince’s Street after the police helicopter spotted a suspicious heat source. A ‘prolific’ shoplifter was also detained on suspicion of new offences.