Little Lever: Youths wreak havoc in town causing damage

Police told The Bolton News they are investigating and working with schools to stamp out anti-social behaviour.

Hanif Patel, manager of Precinct News on Market Street, Little Lever, spoke about being targeted by baby-faced yobs said to be around 13 years-old.

He said they have been stealing stock, throwing cans of drink and stones, they have smashed his shop door window, been racist towards him and flashed their genitals at him outside the store.

Hanif said the problems have been going on for a couple of weeks and he was left feeling "scared".

He said: “In the beginning the youths started coming in taking items, stealing them, and then they would run away, and they kept doing it.

“When we started to notice things going missing, we started keeping an eye on the kids, and when we saw them approach, we stopped them coming in and said to them to not come in the shop, don’t come in anymore but they continued coming in.

Smashed window at the Precinct News (Image: NQ)

“They opened the door, shouting, shouting racist abuse, and making funny noises and kept throwing objects inside like cans of coke, bottles, stones, at one time a stone just went past my eyes.

“They have been throwing water bombs, drinks in the cans were thrown, chucking items in my shop.

“Last week they were frequently coming in and they are about 13 or 14.

“They were shouting racist comments at me from outside and it is in front of other people that they are shouting at me.

“I am scared to be at work, we called the police, and they didn’t do anything they just gave us a crime reference number and that’s it, that’s no good.”

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Andrea Willis, manager of the Post Office inside the Precinct News, said: “So obviously it has been the school holidays, so the children have been congregating outside, so they have been a right nuisance.

“They have been coming into the shop, they have been racist to the two Asian men who are on the shop side, they have been stealing off the shelves, they have smashed the window on the single door there.

“Hanif went outside to film them to get a video of them doing the anti-social behaviour and they have dropped their trousers front and back, being racist and abusive towards him as well.

“I went out the other day to ask them to go away and said they are just causing a nuisance and they just gave me abuse.

Windows boarded up at the old health centre (Image: Sean Hornby)

“So in the end we called the police, the police came out on Monday, September 4, they asked them to move on, and said to us there wasn’t much else they could do, they moved them on and 10 minutes afterwards they have returned and they taunted Hanif and while he was telling them to go away, another person came in and stole off the shelf and one of my customers chased after them but by this time the youth has gone away.

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“I don’t think the police can do much about it, but I have been speaking to Sean Hornby and he has been helping us, the same youths have recently vandalised a home.

“Videos we have got of the youths have been sent to the police and hopefully with that, if there are any local schools, we can find out who they are and get their parents to pay for the damage.”

Former councillor Sean Hornby said a law needs to be in place where parents are prosecuted for their children’s anti-social behaviour as the same youths are causing trouble across Little Lever.

He also said efforts are being made to identify the youths.

Sean said: “The anti-social behaviour has been going on all over Little Lever for some time now, and while we have some police presence occasionally, it is not enough.

“I would urge that residents not to post photos on social media as when it goes to court it weakens the case, share them with the police or ourselves and we will pass them on.

“It is a problem that we have got since the new library and health centre has been built, it has escalated.

“The youths are constantly on the roof of that, they are on the roof of the old library which we still haven’t sold yet, they are congregating on the precinct, I mean the litter that is on there every morning is unbelievable.

“They have caused damage to the bowling green too and they go on the roof there, sliding down it and swearing at people.

“Lower down the road next to Kings Church, there is a house that is being renovated at the moment and there was damage that was done to that and there is CCTV showing them throwing the bricks.

Precinct News and Post Office in Little Lever (Image: NQ)

“It is the same set of youths doing the same things.

“They have no regard whatsoever- they entice you to come at them and I think we need to look at if there is a law out there that says if we can’t prosecute the children then prosecute the parents.

“Parents should know what their kids are doing, some of these youths are as young as nine and we think the ones in the latest incident are 12 or 13.

“I just don’t know what the answer is.

“As each generation has come down, the situation has got worse.

“These youths won’t go to youth provision, they will not attend anything that is organised, they are adamant that they will cause as much trouble as they can.

“When is it going to end?”

Inspector Keiron Maddocks, of Greater Manchester Police's Bolton district, said: "As the newly appointed neighbourhood inspector, my team is focused on working with our communities and responding to the issues that affect them.

"I understand the concerns in this particular area but I want to reassure residents that we are working hard to ensure the best results for the community.

"Where individuals are identified, my team will take positive action and work with partners to ensure a problem solving approach is adopted.

"My team will be exploring all options to deal with issues like this from community orders right the way through to tenancy action with social housing providers and private landlords.

"Where evidence of criminal behaviour is available, arrest and positive outcomes will be sought.

"In addition, we are looking at engagement work wherever possible.

"With the new school year starting, we are getting officers into schools to discuss anti-social behaviour with young people and remind them of their responsibilities.

"We will continue to support and work with victims to ensure a good service is provided and that those causing problems are dealt with appropriately."

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.