A former councillor who campaigned for more police on Salford Quays to combat antisocial behaviour and late-night car racing has hailed the recruitment of extra officers. An additional six police officers are being dedicated to the area following campaigns by residents and local councillors in the face longstanding crime issues.
Ex-Labour councillor Phil Tresadern served on Salford city council for only a year, losing his seat in May. The 42-year-old software engineer said he had no wish to return immediately to local politics, but said he was "delighted" police chiefs had "reacted positively" to local concerns.
"I was one of many people who pushed for more police," said Mr Tresadern, who has a degree in robotics from the University of Salford. "I've lived in Salford for 24 years and although software engineering is my main job, I've also been involved in charities and I got involved in local politics because I thought I could do some good."
He said there had been a lot of problems over the years, many of which were "seasonal".
"As we know, there have been problems with people jumping into the water and climbing on bridges," he said. "And a particular problem has been late-night car racing.
"The people living there know what's going happen and when and it's been a sorce of frustration for them. So this is a big step in the right direction."
Greater Manchester Police said the extra resources are being delivered as part of the ongoing three-year programme to recruit officers to "ultimately strengthen our fight against crime and keep our communities safe".
They said the officers will be based in Salford Quays and will supported by other police from across the district as well as specialist colleagues from across the force and will work alongside partner agencies and members of the public.
Chief Superintendent Shaun Donnellan, of GMP’s Salford district, said: “As part of the force’s commitment to strengthen our dedicated neighbourhood policing teams, we are listening to our communities and partner agencies to ensure that their concerns are acted upon. This good news for Salford Quays is just one example of that.
“The population of Salford Quays is continuing to increase, as is the number of businesses moving to the area - attracting both people from across Greater Manchester as well as tourists. With an increase in footfall comes challenges but these extra resources ensure that the local policing team is well equipped to overcome them.
“This announcement should build the confidence of those who live and work in and around Salford Quays that we are committed to delivering an outstanding service. These officers are there for you and I’d encourage anyone with concerns about their communities to contact their neighbourhood policing teams either in person or online.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett “We have worked closely with GMP to look at the growth of Salford Quays and the need for a better resourced policing model.
“We’re really pleased that GMP has listened to our concerns in relation to the need for extra dedicated resources at Salford Quays. We look forward to a close community safety partnership in the area and improvements for everyone who lives, works and visits there.
“Salford Quays has become one of Europe’s most successful waterside regeneration schemes for Greater Manchester and we need the infrastructure for it to continue to thrive."
He added the wider neighbourhood police team area which includes Ordsall and Pendleton and Charlestown would also benefit from the "flexibility provided by additional officers for Salford Quays".
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