Operation Treacle: We’ve got ASB licked

The campaign aims to target anti-social behaviour in all its forms – from innocent mischief-making which gets out of hand to serious incidents of criminal damage. And it also intends to draw attention to the dangers of playing with fireworks, deliberately starting fires and making hoax calls to the emergency services.

Partners across the borough – including Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, Wigan Council, Wigan & Leigh Housing and Greater Manchester Police – today launched the campaign at Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley, in front of an attentive audience of year 8s and year 9s.

As part of Operation Treacle, fire officers are visiting 15 high schools across the borough, focussing on areas where there’s been a previous history of youth-related anti-social behaviour at this time of year.

The presentation aims to inform pupils about the penalties for misusing fireworks and building dangerous bonfires, as well as encouraging them to consider the consequences of knocking on the doors of vulnerable and elderly people when they are out “trick or treating”. Victim Support is also holding school visits to encourage young people to consider the impact of their behaviour on their peers and communities.

Operation Treacle is supported by safe4autumn.com – a dedicated website which encourages young people to explore how to get involved in positive activities and to attend organised firework displays.

“We see a spike in anti-social behaviour during this period,” says Supt Andrea Jones from Greater Manchester Police Wigan Division.

“It ranges from silly pranks such as throwing flour and eggs at windows to serious incidents of damage to property and personal injury. Criminal damage and anti-social behaviour cause distress, expense and inconvenience to communities, and we will not tolerate it.

“We don’t want to put a dampener on people having fun but we are cracking down on offending behaviour. So unless you want to deal with the possible consequences - an £80 fine, arrest or a criminal record - please show respect for others, behave responsibly and preferably attend organised displays where you can enjoy yourself in a safe environment.”

“This campaign is not just about enforcement. It’s also about reducing the kind of injuries caused by recklessness and stupidity,” says Steve Sheridan, Wigan Borough Commander from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

He adds, “We don’t want to be killjoys – but sadly too many people forget to follow basic safety advice around bonfires and fireworks. That’s why our website and school talks don’t pull any punches and graphically illustrate the potentially tragic consequences of playing with fireworks and behaving recklessly around fire.

"Sadly, in spite of all the measures put in place last year, we still experienced two very serious injuries relating to the misuse and careless use of fireworks, so we urge parents to do their bit in helping us ensure young people have fun but stay safe, too."

“The fortnight around Halloween and Bonfire can be a flashpoint for all kinds of anti-social behaviour, blighting neighbourhoods and causing distress to local people,” says Cllr. Kevin Anderson, Wigan Council’s Cabinet Champion for Neighbourhoods.

“Operation Treacle pulls agencies together and takes a firm carrot and stick approach to ASB, combining educational, enforcement and safety messages to ensure that children and young people are informed about the potential consequences of getting caught up in ASB, whilst being encouraged to take part in fun, meaningful and safe activities.”

But Operation Treacle is not simply aimed at addressing the behaviour of a small minority of young people. It’s aimed at adults, too.

As part of the annual campaign, enforcement teams from Wigan Council’s Cleansing and Neighbourhood teams, together with officers from Wigan and Leigh Housing, will also target illegal bonfires and rogue fly-tippers; whilst Wigan Council’s Trading Standards team will be stepping up action to target retailers who sell fireworks to under-18s or those that stock unsafe and illegal fireworks.

“This campaign is not intending to stigmatise young people,” says Cllr Anderson. “They are more likely to be victims of anti-social behaviour than perpetrators.

“We will target all offenders. If anyone is caught using bonfires as a means of fly-tipping, particularly the dumping of hazardous waste, they will be prosecuted.”

As part of the drive towards ensuring young people remain safe over the Treacle period, agencies such as Wigan Council’s youth service, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, Wigan Athletic FC Community Foundation and GMP’s Nowt2do? project will be laying on a range of activities for children and young people. Details of activities, many of which are free or subsidised, can be found at www.wigan.gov.uk/safe4autumn and on the Linc Website.

Head Teacher at Fred Longworth in Tyldesley, says: “Our school is delighted to be associated with Operation Treacle. We have a strong track record of working with agencies and the community, particularly with the Nowt2do? scheme.

“We want our students to enjoy some traditional fun, without getting drawn into anti-social behaviour, and to play a positive role in their community.”

The safe4autumn website also gives young people an opportunity to win an i-Pad by competing in an on-line quiz which gets them thinking about firework safety. Also featured is a hard-hitting video which graphically illustrates the potentially tragic consequences of playing with fireworks and behaving recklessly around fire. A range of posters and a teacher’s toolkit can also be downloaded from the site.

Notes to Editors:

1. Partners include Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, Wigan & Leigh Housing, Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust, Greater Manchester Police, Victim Support, Transport for Greater Manchester and Wigan Council (including teams from the Youth Services, Trading Standards, Cleansing and Neighbourhoods).