Police Chase Stolen Motor Bike In Hulme
Earlier this evening a thief abandoned a stolen large black motor bike on Old York Street corner of Royce Road, Hulme. Police surrounded the area while crowds of children gathered to see the chase. It did look like the offender, now on foot, ran into housing between Old York St and Dearden St, adjacent to the park.
Then an hour later police began to deal with an incident in Hulme Park. Again this called for 3 cars and 2 vans, another van was parked near the junction of Chevassut Street / Jackson Crescent. It’s not sure if the 2 incidents are connected or if this second one was brought on by local youths which had gathered.
The police refused to give me any information about these incidents. When I rang the police I was questioned myself. Was I a journalist? I told police that I was a community reporter for MCIN & www.mymanchester.net. That carried as much weight as a helium balloon on the moon and I was held in a queue while being transfered to control. I watched as my inclusive minutes tick by for 7 minutes. Finally, when someone could be bothered to answer the phone again, the police said the information was subject to “data protection”. Is that protected until MEN, Granada or BBC asks for it, I wonder? Why is it “protected” when we may see it in the press tomorrow?
It looks like the police were not willing to reassure residents if the thief has been caught or if he/she is still at large in the Hulme area. And, it isn’t clear if the police need any information from the public. So, this is all the police info I have - absolute zero!
CRIME IN HULME
I’ve talked to residents that would not normally speak to police or any press and they tell me about crime that has gone on in Hulme. Some fear reprisals if they did speak up. They tell me about people who have been mugged coming home from a local pub, another has talked about plasma screen TV’s stolen to order.
The good news is that one of the local Police Community Support Officers arrested a man while the burglary was still in progress. It was quicker for the PCSO to get there than a police vehicle with sirens blazing.
I wondered why there were PCSO’s during the day and none at night. You pay £300,000 for a house and pay taxes and council tax, you’d want the police patrolling regularly. While people are at work, their homes are empty and this is tempting for criminals to break-in. Hulme residents should take measures to prevent crime and can contact police for advice on making their homes & cars more secure.
Earlier this week, in a press statement, Greater Manchester Chief Police Officer, Peter Fay, who replaced the late Mike Todd, said he wanted more police to patrol during the day and that there was enough at night patrolling the streets. Which streets are those? City centre streets perhaps? I’ve not noticed any police patrolling Hulme at night. Yes, we do get the helicopter occasionally and a drive-by police van once a blue moon.
I, like many people, wonder.. why we don’t get police patrols at night? Why are we being bothered by drunken anti-social shouting and screaming and loud music in the early hours? As the police said to one resident, “You have to take it up with City Council Noise Pollution team” That can take a long time of sleepless nights. What if you drive for a living or are in the medical profession? Severe tiredness may cause lack of judgment, stress, ill-health and fatigue. Which means time off work, stress related problems or in some cases fatality due to fatal errors, because of some, often unemployed, anti-social boozed & drugged fueled neighbour that keeps the street awake at night.
Patrolling our residential areas at night is crime prevention, I would have thought - man charged with manslaughter of 63-year-old man “after police were called to reports of a disturbance on Saturday night.” Where were these police patrols that the GM Chief of Police said we had? Doing paper work, I guess. Why did this man not have the confidence in ringing the police, to then put himself at risk? I was assaulted when I asked one of my neighbours to turn his noise down. He was drugged fueled and drunk and threatening. I lost confidence in the police myself. But, it isn’t the police directly. It is the Government not doing enough to change legislation and releasing the police from stacks of paper work.
At present, in the Hulme and Moss Side area in the last month, there is an average of:
- Burglaries to homes 31.
- Violence against a person 45.
- Theft from vehicles 38.
- Theft from a person 9.
- Anti-social behaviour 8.
It could mean that anti-social behaviour at night is not a priority. Reported crime in the area has increased this month from 417 to 460 in total.
People can report any concerns they have to the police on 0161 872 5050 or through Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Leave a comment on what you think about the policing in your area.
HELP FOR EX-CONS
Ex-criminals, who have served their jail sentences, are to be given help while living in Hulme under a joint scheme by People First HA and the Hulme-based organisation Ex-cell, they intend to start providing support services to the ex-prisoners soon.
I would like to know if these ex-cons were already living in Hulme before or have just come out of prison and been offered a flat or house straight away in this re-development area. Are ex-offenders jumping the housing queue? Should we give them a chance to go straight?
On one side, I can see that there is a need to put someone in a nice place away from influences that can draw the person back into crime and give them a fresh start to build their lives in a real positive way with support on every side.
On the other, there are those who have made new friends and connections in prison and even enrolled in further education in how to be a more effective criminal.
Let’s hope that this is a positive step to reform these people and make them into role models themselves, even on to mentor young adults in how not to do this life.
What do you think - leave a comment.
OTHER NEWS
In the meantime, police are becoming increasingly concerned for a 13-year-old boy who has been missing from home. Daniel Whitehead was last seen at his home on Walsingham Avenue, Middleton, on Monday 14 July 2008.
Daniel is described as white, 4ft 5ins tall with short brown hair, brown eyes and of a medium build. He was wearing a grey tracksuit, with black shorts and a red top underneath.
Police Constable Cathy Watts of Oldham police station said: “Daniel has been missing before. We are concerned about his welfare and we need to know that he is safe and well. If you have any information about his whereabouts please contact us.”
Anyone with any information should call 0161 856 9063.