A village has its own bobby after it lost its dedicated police team some years back.

Residents in Little Lever have been asking for a larger police presence in the village after a spate of violent crime.

In November last year a huge number of residents gathered for a meeting to express their concerns.

Many of the concerns were centred around a number of violent incidents that had taken place, including an attack on a delivery driver and a mum robbed of her car at knifepoint.

Another incident resulted in a man in his 20s being taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a stabbing.

Police investigations have led to arrests and prosecution in a number of incidents but villagers said they wanted more police on the streets.

Little Lever used to have a police base in the village but it shut in 2008.

Now they village has a police officer and a PCSO.

Cllr Sean Hornby – who represents Little Lever and Darcy Lever – says that this has been a long time coming and that there has been a huge need for more of a police presence.

The Bolton News: During a meeting in NovemberDuring a meeting in November (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “It’s not a total answer to the problem, but we have said that there has to be a police presence, and not just a reaction to something going on.

“This is something we have been arguing for, for a long time.

“This has happened because of a police boundary change.

“They were originally covering Astley Bridge.

"Police were just responding to incidents, and now people have said they have seen the PCSO out and about, and it about reassurance."

Cllr Hornby says he is not sure it will have a “great impact”, but that it is a start to tackling the issues of youth and car crime in the area.

He said that some of the issues around policing stem from a huge budget cut in central Government to reduce the number of police.

He added: “It won’t have a great impact, but it is a start.

The Bolton News: The police cordon on Booth Road on February 13 2023The police cordon on Booth Road on February 13 2023 (Image: Newsquest)

“The major issue we have is youth and car crime and some parts of the borough including Dove Bank Estate needs to be solved.

“We have had quite a few that have been pinched, so there needs to be definite action.

“I understand that there have been budget cuts, with Theresa May taking 20,000 officers off the street as part of cutbacks.

“There have been regular visits in the library where we have previously had problems.

“Hopefully working together as a partnership there will be some improvement.”

It comes as Cllr Hornby previously wrote to the Chief Constable Stephen Watson and Chief Superintendent Stephanie Park highlighting the concerns of residents and he said as a result of that there is now a police presence in the village.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.