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Police operation targets anti-social behaviour
A POLICE operation has taken place in Sale to curb an anticipated rise in criminal damage, graffiti and anti-social behaviour.
Criminal damage costs residents throughout Greater Manchester a staggering £66.3m a year and accounts for 34 per cent of overall crime in the area.
Throughout March there is a national predicted increase in damage to property and vehicles and the latest initiative, which happened on March 19, aimed to reduce the number of offences.
Neighbourhood area inspector Brendan O'Brien said: "This was a day of action for the force with a focus on targeting criminal damage and everyone worked a late shift. It served as a useful reminder about what's important to us.
"We were on the look out to find people who commit acts of criminal damage and also to prevent damage from happening, a large part of that being graffiti. We also patrolled the entire Sale area specifically looking for graffiti tags."
As a result of the operation two people were arrested for causing criminal damage. One was damaging a bus stop with a marker pen and the other was caught using a spray paint can to tag a fence. They each received police cautions.
Thirty-nine people in total were stopped and spoken to and seven of them were searched.
Insp O'Brien added: "The key message is that this kind of action doesn't stop after a one-day initiative. We want to know who's committing criminal acts so people should feel confident enough to let us know."
The inspector recognised the argument over whether graffiti tagging is vandalism or a form of artistic expression for young people and explained that he has made an offer to Sale Moor Youth Partnership for members to come up with an interesting design for one of Sale Police Station's outside walls.
He said: "This offer extends to any young people that can come up with an interesting mural that portrays the work we do as a neighbourhood team. We'll help fund paint and materials for the best design with a view to showcasing artistic talent."
If you would like to put your ideas forward contact 0161 856 7865.
4:04pm Thursday 20th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: 60schild, Sale on 8:48am Fri 21 Mar 08
When they do these initiatives it's always Sale Moor - what about the rest of Sale. I live in Ashton-on-Mersey near Plymouth road shops and I've yet to see them do an initiative in this area. Come to think of it with all the new PCSO's recruited I've never seen any of them in the area.
When they do these initiatives it's always Sale Moor - what about the rest of Sale. I live in Ashton-on-Mersey near Plymouth road shops and I've yet to see them do an initiative in this area. Come to think of it with all the new PCSO's recruited I've never seen any of them in the area.
Posted by: R Jones, Stretford on 2:44pm Fri 21 Mar 08
I cannot complain, they are doing a really super job in Stretford. They are usually sent to hot spots, you need to inform them if you have on going problems.
I cannot complain, they are doing a really super job in Stretford. They are usually sent to hot spots, you need to inform them if you have on going problems.
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