Parents have been left scared to leave their homes and let their kids play in the park on an estate branded the 'worst in Rochdale'. Drug dealers, balaclava-clad gangs of teens and boy racers plague the Alkrington estate in Middleton, according to terrified locals.
"People are becoming fearful to live in their own homes. It's not right," explains a mum-of-two in the doorway of her home. "Twenty years ago when I moved in, it was a lovely place to live... but not anymore."
Shopkeepers told the MEN how they have been bombarded with racist abuse from teens who smashed windows. "I only feel safe when I close the shutters" said Pervaiz, who has worked at the village store for two years.
"They have broken the windows outside the shop. They come in with balaclavas and there is nothing we can do because their faces are covered.
"It's young people who roam about at night, and they are getting younger and younger. I am trying my best to keep reporting it and get something done. It is scary for us working in the area.
"There are mostly good people here. But there are a small group who aren't."
Another resident, who has lived behind the shops at The Downs for two decades, said it was a 'lovely' place to live when she first moved in. Now with two older sons, she tells the MEN she hasn't left her house in months due to her anxiety, which she said had worsened.
"There are a lot of drug dealings in the car park," she said. "At one time it wasn't like this at all. It was not a bad place to live, it was lovely, but not now. Just look what is happening.
'I haven't left my house for months'
"People can't even go into the shop. It's impacting so many families who live here. People are being abused and shouted at in the street, and little ones can't even enjoy the new park.
"It is just disgusting. The kids that are doing it are so young and getting even younger. I want the drug dealings to stop and all the anti-social behaviour, which is constant. They think they can get away with it, making people's lives a misery.
"We need more cameras here, these teenagers and kids need a curfew and the parents need to take responsibility for their children. I have anxiety and depression and all this is making it so much worse. People are becoming fearful to live in their own homes. It's not right."
Ward Councillor Dylan Williams, who himself was raised in Alkrington, believes the decline is down to a lack of CCTV cameras and police patrolling the streets, as well as the fear of reprisals.
"The residents have no faith in the police, that's what they tell me," he says. "Residents say they have tried with the police in the past but they don’t get anywhere. They also feel scared and intimidated to do so due to fear of repercussions."
That same response was echoed by those living and working nearby.
'We need more police patrols'
Shopkeeper Pervaiz said: "We need more police patrolling in the afternoons to stop things happening. The police are called but there is no response - so many times I have reported things but nothing happens."
"It is usually groups of young lads" added fellow shop worker Tahir. "They are usually 13 or 14 years old. So many times they are coming in stealing things or just generally causing trouble. They hang around in groups outside the shop which intimidates people too."
However, Greater Manchester Police said reports of anti-social behaviour are low compared to other areas.
A new new playground has already been vandalised by older teens, according to Cllr Williams. He said: "It is a really deprived area and has been for years - but it is just getting worse. There are so many problems and families don't even feel like they can let their own children play out.
"There is loads of anti-social behaviour and low-level gang crime, but lots of it doesn't get reported. Residents are contacting me daily about stuff going on, but many are scared to take it any further.
"I have been called in the early hours of the morning when the big car park in front of the shops on The Downs are being used as a racing rally or people are dealing drugs there."
Cllr Williams has written to the Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council to push for more CCTV cameras in the area. He is also calling on Greater Manchester Police to deploy more officers to the area, to increase their presence and deter potential criminals.
'Living in fear'
Rochdale Council has acknowledged the issues in a statement to the MEN and said they were looking into Coun Williams' requests for cameras. They added that they are exploring options on how they can engage with police to tackle the problem estate. Rochdale Borough Council added that '80 per cent' of tenants were 'satisfied' with the area.
Cllr Williams continued: "There are people there genuinely living in fear and scared about even walking to the shops and have told me they don't feel they can let their children out to play. It is getting really bad and it is unfair on the people living there.
"I grew up around there and my family are from the area. Someone needs to take action to tackle the real and blatant issues going on. I would say it is the worst estate in the borough."
Rochdale Council 'exploring' what can be done - but police say crime is 'comparably low'
Rochdale Borough Housing told the Manchester Evening News that 80 per cent of tenants responded to a recent survey saying they were 'satisfied' with the area. They added they will continue to work with the council and police to tackle anti-social behaviour issues.
A spokesperson added: "We believe that Alkrington is a good place to live. In our latest survey of tenants and residents, which is carried out independently, almost 80 per cent of our tenants in the Alkrington area responded that they are satisfied or better with their neighbourhood.
"As we would with any neighbourhood in the Borough, when issues of anti-social behaviour do arise, we work with our colleagues at Rochdale Borough Council and Greater Manchester Police to take action. Residents should call the police to report any crime and can also report anti-social behaviour directly to the RBH team.
"We will work with our partners in the Police and at the Council to act on any reports of anti-social behaviour and provide support to residents who need it."
A spokesperson for Rochdale Council said: "The council have received a letter from Councillor Williams and we are looking into the request. We are exploring what might be done and engaging with partners including Greater Manchester Police.
"It should be noted as a council we are committed to the safer communities partnership which was established in 2000. The partnership has the purpose of tackling crime and disorder on a multi-agency basis and we work with the police and a range of other public and third sector bodies on such matters as crime reduction."
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said that in the last three months there have been 29 reports of crime, seven of which were anti-social behaviour. They say this is 'comparably low' to other areas.
“Nevertheless, we are continuing to engage with members of the public, elected members and partner agencies to ensure our communities feel as safe as possible. Anyone who is concerned is encouraged to contact GMP via gmp.police.uk or 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.”
