Youngsters have been stop searched for drugs in Tameside after a spike in anti-social behaviour targeting two historic churches. Greater Manchester Police has issued a warning as 'groups of youths' have been causing a nuisance at two churches in Droylsden.
Police say St Mary's Church, on Church Street, and Fairfield Moravian Church, on Fairfield Square, have both been targeted in recent weeks. According to GMP Tameside, the groups have been causing criminal damage, drinking alcohol and taking drugs.
Officers have since performed stop searches in the area and seized cannabis from the youths, while parents have been informed. With the Easter holidays underway, police are warning youngsters in Droylsden to avoid the area and are promising they will act again if needed.
In a post on Facebook today (April 17), a spokesperson for GMP Tameside South and West said: "Recently we have experienced ASB issues at St Mary's Church and Moravian Church Droylsden, whereby groups of youths have been gathering causing issues for local residents and causing criminal damage to the church, drinking alcohol and taking drugs.
"Stop and searches have been conducted on youths found at these locations recently by local neighbourhood officers, where cannabis warnings have been issued and the youths taken home by police, where the drugs have been confiscated by police for destruction in front of parents.
"We advise youths to stay away from these locations. Extra officers will be out patrolling these locations if anyone is found at these locations they will be spoken to by officers and if required stop searches will be conducted possibly leading to arrests."
Fairfield Moravian Church was founded in 1785 as part of the Moravian settlement for protestants who fled persecution in the Czech Republic and Bohemia, having rebelled against the Catholic Church, while St Mary's Church dates back to 1846. Both buildings are listed.
