Police in Monton, Salford, seized nine e-bikes and six e-scooters during a day of action targeting anti-social behaviour and crime around Monton Green, following months of reported disorder involving groups of young people.
Historic shelter at centre of disorder
Monton Veterans’ Shelter, a local landmark for almost a century, sits in the centre of Monton Green, close to the area's high street, nicknamed 'Monton Carlo' due to its bars and restaurants. Despite the name, the shelter is not war-related but refers to veterans of industry. A community request from 1928 asked for a place where locals could sit and chat away from the cold and rain.
“This has always been a gathering place for young people,” said local ward councillor and Deputy Mayor of Salford, Coun Mike McCusker.
Reports of disorder and crime
This summer, locals reported that each evening, groups of more than 20 youngsters, many masked or covering their faces, gathered in and around the shelter and the green. There were reports of eggs, stones, and fireworks being thrown, including at passing cars, as well as starting fires, smashing a bus shelter, damaging street furniture, bins, and trees, and riding push bikes, off-road bikes, and scooters 'dangerously' on the busy neighbouring roundabout.
Many locals told the Manchester Evening News they felt unsafe going out in the evening and feared the issues were 'spoiling' the area's reputation as a destination for an evening out. Police responded to an attempted robbery of a takeaway delivery rider in July, as well as issues reported on the Roe Green Loopline and Swinton Greenway, including items such as raw chicken being thrown from the greenway bridge over Bradford Road.
Police response and day of action
After a public meeting attended by police, councillors, and more than 200 members of the public at the end of September, local police put in place a 48-hour dispersal order. This gives officers the power to order someone aged 10 or older to leave an area immediately if they suspect their behaviour causes harassment, alarm, distress, or crime. Those living and working in the area said this seemed to have an effect, but once it expired, people returned and issues resumed.
On Monday, September 28, police held a 'high-visibility' day, and two days later, on Wednesday, September 30, a day of action saw officers from different teams deployed throughout the day. More than 20 potential suspects were identified beforehand. Local councillors emphasised that a 'small minority' of those gathering were believed to be involved in anti-social behaviour and crime.
Local officers said the 'main culprits' were believed to be illegally using e-bikes and e-scooters, using the loop line and greenway, which most police vehicles cannot access, as entry and exit points. During the day of action, nine e-bikes and six e-scooters were seized. Privately owned e-scooters are illegal on UK roads, while e-bikes over a certain power are classed as motorbikes and require a licence and insurance.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) deployed officers on pedal bikes and motorbikes, as well as the force's drone unit. A total of 28 stop and searches were carried out, 11 of which led to action, including referrals and out-of-court disposals for some youths.
Ongoing efforts to tackle the issue
Sergeant Heather Stott said off-road bikes around Monton Green and the loop lines had been causing 'alarm,' 'intimidating local people,' and 'affecting businesses both in the day and the evening.' She said the number of reports provided an 'intelligence picture' and the basis for authorising the operation. “There’s always anti-social behaviour in the summer. I wouldn’t say it’s just Monton Green. There are always more reports during the school holidays,” she said.
“I just think this year for unknown reasons, they are congregating around there. But I have to make it clear that not every youth or young person are the ones that are causing the issues. It is a small minority and it is them that we are targeting,” she added. “What we won’t tolerate, and we will deal with robustly, is any criminal act. I think the bigger these groups are, that’s what causes alarm to members of the community.”
“The past two days of action have been really positive,” she added. “We’ve done lots of seizures, both of e-bikes and scooters. We’ve utilised stop and search powers where we’ve got positive outcomes, predominantly for drug use.”
Coun McCusker said locals felt police and the council 'may not have been doing enough,' but that a lot was going on behind the scenes. He said the dispersal order 'seems to have had an effect.' “The criminal element seems to be associated with e-bikes and e-scooters, illegal ones. So the police have been trying to focus on that to see if they can disrupt it. That has worked. A large number of e-bikes and e-scooters have been seized. That takes pressure off the fears of people using the Greenway,” he said.
Coun McCusker said the council was using CCTV images to identify ringleaders, working with local schools to contact parents, looking at ways to slow down bikes and scooters on the greenway, cutting back foliage, and considering changes to the bridge over Bradford Road. “I think we have got a grip of it now,” he said. “But it’s an ongoing thing, and we’re going to keep working. We’re going to be using the contacts we have in schools in Salford just to constantly get the message across and get it across to the parents of those children that they need to make sure they’re acting in a responsible way when they’re out.”
