Teenagers tune in to the sound of Respect

Budding musicians and vocalists have been writing and recording their own songs as part of the Woodhouse Park Respect Action week.

During the Respect Action Weeks the council, Greater Manchester Police and the community work together with other partners on a two pronged approach to tackling low level crime and anti-social behaviour. Police officers and neighbourhood wardens organise high visibility patrols to target hot spot areas identified by housing wardens and local residents and youth workers organise diversionary activities for young people.

Residents in Woodhouse Park told us that they were concerned about groups of young people causing a nuisance around the shops on Cornishway and in the Civic Centre. GMP carried out extra patrols and Manchester City Council's Youth Contact Team organised a wide range of activities for young people aged between 13 and 19. Along with the recording sessions there were swimming sessions, workouts in the gym, a football tournament and the Youth Bus - with cinema nights, computers, playstation, X-box and DVDs - was parked at different venues each evening.

So far the respect weeks held across the city have proved a great success with crime levels falling significantly. During the Brooklands respect, which was held in October, overall crime in the area fell by 40%.

Manchester City Council deputy leader, Jim Battle said: " The Woodhouse Park Respect has had a very positive impact on the area. As in other areas across the city, we have found this way of working to be extremely effective. It has immediate results during the Respect Action Week and leaves a positive legacy for the community to build on."

Inspector Adrian Hopkins, Neighbourhood Inspector for Wythenshawe and Sharston said: " The Woodhouse Park Respect Action week was a real success with 25 partner agencies coming together to improve the quality of life for the people living in this area.

"We visited 2,200 householders with Respect Packs and talked with almost a thousand residents about their concerns and the changes they would like to see in their neighbourhoods.

"Armed with this information we and our partners can continue to plan and make the improvements that local people want and help make Woodhouse Park a place where people are happy to live."

Other activity during Woodhouse Park RAW

Residents of Burnsall Walk, Lambourne Grove, North Green Meadows, Portway, Summerfield Road and Ullswater told us they were concerned about the misuse of drugs and alcohol. Officers from the Public Health Department visited 11 licensed premises in the area and provided advice. Residents in Foley Walk, Greyfriars Road, Studland Road, Ullswater Road and Painswick Park were concerned about vandalism. The Street Environment Manager organised 5 clean-ups around the area, 8 graffiti sites were cleared and 1 fixed penalty notice was issued for littering.

Greater Manchester Police made 12 arrests including drugs, possession of a prohibited dog and going equipped. Ten warrants were executed 22 stop and searches were carried out. Ten fixed penalty notices were issued. More than twelve and a half thousand vehicles were scanned using the automatic number plate recognition equipment. Four illegal vehicles were seized.

Fire and Rescue Officers carried out 116 Home Fire Risk Assessments and 25 fire safety inspections at local businesses. The benefits fraud team carried out 31 investigations. Twenty eight properties were visited by British Gas. United Utilities carried out 12 inspections. The NCP Vehicle Recovery Team recorded 24 untaxed vehicles and removed and impounded 10 of these vehicles. The team also issued 10 Penalty Charge Notices. Manchester Parks and Leisure patrolled the various parks in the area providing advice on the new dog control orders. Trading Standards officers visited Wythenshawe Market and Portway Civic Society and seized CD's and Toys. Further Action will result.

Stagecoach officers checked almost 1,000 passengers, issued 11 fines for non-payment of fares, 2 arrests were made.

TV Licensing Officers visited 127 addresses in the area and took 33 statements from unlicensed occupiers. Further Action will result. The Probation Unpaid Work Unit carried out an environmental clean up at Hatchett Woods.

Media contact:

Sally Wheatman, tel: 0161 234 4045