ASB levels reduce thanks to Youth Zones

Since the inceptions of both Wigan Youth Zone and The Factory Youth Zone in Manchester, police have seen considerable reductions in anti-social behaviour levels over the last year, proving again, that OnSide’s Youth Zones are making a tangible difference in the community.

Local police recently reported a 77% reduction in anti-social behaviour (ASB) as a direct result of strategic and continued partnership work between Wigan Youth Zone and local police, whilst Harpurhey has also seen a 51% reduction in ASB since its opening.
Mesnes Park close to Wigan’s Youth Zone has been a hot-spot for anti-social behaviour for many years mainly during the summer since the Youth Zone’s inception in June 2013.

A proactive approach was taken by the Youth Zone team, local police as well as the leader of Wigan Council. Through this partnership work, the local police were able to pin-point the source of the alcohol and drugs to rapidly reduce the problem, in-turn signposting those on the park to more positive activity in the Youth Zone, whilst instilling a zero tolerance on trouble in the park.

Wigan Youth Zone is not alone in developing collaborative partnerships which have a positive effect on the local community. Harpurhey, the home of The Factory Youth Zone in Manchester, has also seen a 51% reduction in ASB since its opening.

PCSO Rob Smith, a local police officer in the Harpurhey area commented: “My partner and I have been working in the area for nearly 7 years and during that time we haven’t seen a noticeable difference on ASB until The Factory opened.”

He continued: “We have come across residents that were against the opening of The Factory stating that it would cause more problems than solve. Since the opening we have had further comments from those residents who are now happy and grateful that The Factory has given the young people a place to go rather than cause them problems by hanging around on their streets.”