25-05-2025
Parents warned of a worrying increase of young people carrying knives
Officers said they had noticed an increase in the number of young people carrying knives at a recent community meeting.
Police said that there was a problem with young people carrying knives and tackling this started at home, with parents have to take responsibility to educate children, and remain vigilant.
The alert was issued at the Partners and Communities Together held at Ladybridge Community Centre as the crime stats for the area were detailed and initiatives were announced, including a crackdown on speeding.
Officers are working with young people who have got into trouble.
Speaking at the meeting Community Safety Officer Aaron McCarthy said: 'We have given 19 advice letters to young people so far this year, with a total of 47 young people on their first warning.
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'In total we have also given out 13 final warnings, which means that the young people get a support worker from the police who are able to jobs" target="_blank">work with them over a six month period.
'We have also given out two Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC) this year.'
ABC's are a voluntary agreement between a child (10-17 years inclusive), in some cases a parent and the local authority/police where the child agrees not to be involved in certain anti-social acts.
If breached, it may be used as evidence in Court to support further legal action.
Localised data shared at the meeting also revealed that a community speed watch scheme is in the works, which is likely to be implemented on Ladybridge estate by the end of summer.
Speaking at the meeting, Neighbourhood Inspector Jamie Hibbert said: 'Operation Classify is currently targeting speeding drivers across the borough.
'We have issued more traffic offence reports than any other neighbourhood and have also seized 15 vehicles alone this year for traffic offences.
'For the area, the solved rate for the last six months is just under 40 per cent- which is extremely high.'
Vehicle crimes in Bolton West are on a downward trend, with a total of 3,400 crimes down from last year, the recent PACT meeting has revealed.
Police at the meeting said that the number of solved crimes made by Bolton West's Neighbourhood Policing Team totalled to 2,351. That is 127 fewer than the previous year.
Personal robberies had also gone down by 6.6 p er cent in the last 12 months, with a total of 3,387 crimes.
Cllr Anne Galloway and Councillor Martyn Cox were also in attendance of the meeting.
Speaking to The Bolton News Cllr Galloway said: 'PACT meetings are a vital opportunity for local residents to raise concerns, in setting local policing priorities and also in building trust and relationships.
'If residents are interested in voicing local issues, PACT meetings provide a great platform to do so.'
