There has recently been a sharp increase in the number of reports made to me about antisocial behaviour in Atherton, particularly car crime, with the last straw being the arson attack on the willow sculpture in the Blue Bell Boundary Gardens.
I recently had a successful meeting with Atherton Residents’ Association, the Police and local Councillors to try to find a way forward and, since then, I’m pleased to report that there have been a number of arrests.
It’s really important that local people who witness crime report any incidents to police. However, in order to get a successful conviction, it’s even more important that witnesses be willing to attend court. Without witness statements, the Police cannot do their job and lock these people away which means that criminals can continue unpunished. It’s a cycle that cannot continue. If we all work together, I am confident that we will see these gangs locked away and unable to wreak havoc as they have been doing in parts of our town.