The Safe4Summer initiative will run throughout the school summer holidays, and will see police working closely with the fire and rescue service and local authorities to help ensure that everyone has a safe and stress-free summer.
Pupils across Greater Manchester have been made aware of the consequences of antisocial behaviour, and told about the website www.safe4summer.com which gives information on a host of fun activities happening in their area over the holidays. If they take part in a survey on the website, they can enter a competition to win an iPad; closes 31 August.
Police and partners will be directing young people towards the activities listed on the site, as well as maintaining a strong presence in antisocial behaviour hotspots and closely monitoring those with a history of causing disruption to communities. Details of young people causing trouble will be passed on to the councils’ neighbourhood teams, so that youth workers can intervene if necessary.
Underage drinking is one of the main factors causing antisocial behaviour, and so officers will seize illegally purchased alcohol, work with Trading Standards teams to target premises who sell to under 18s, and take firm action against adults who buy drink for young people. Police will also crack down on the illegal use of off-road motorbikes, which tends to be more of a problem over summer, and offenders risk having bikes seized or even crushed.
Chief Inspector Jo Marshall of Greater Manchester Police’s Oldham Division said: “Safe4Summer aims to provide young people with enough activities to banish boredom completely, and offers advice about personal safety on the street, in the countryside and near open water. It also promotes messages about social responsibility, as during the long summer break there are times when what may appear to be a bit of harmless fun can be seen differently by other people, and could carry some quite serious consequences if it gets out of hand.
“The vast majority of young people are law abiding and socially responsible, but I would remind them that it’s not only their summer holiday, as others may also be off enjoying activities or chilling in parks. Finally, I would appeal to parents and guardians to take an active interest in where their children are and what they are doing. Everyone should be able to enjoy the summer break in peace, and this initiative will help to ensure that they can.”
To report any instances of antisocial behaviour or criminal damage, call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Use 999 only in emergencies where there is a threat to life or property or a crime in progress.
