NEIGHBOURHOOD police have urged residents to report anti social behaviour in Atherton.

In a meeting held by Atherton Residents Association on Tuesday night, three neighbourhood police officers answered questions about the problem of anti-social behaviour in the area and what can be done to tackle it.

Their presence at the meeting - which was held at the Atherton Arms in Tyldesley Road - comes after resident’s fears of gang related anti-social behaviour in their area.

Liz Sanderson, neighbourhood inspector for Atherton, Leigh and Hindley said: “I had some checks done and, from November last year to November this year, we have seen a 9% reduction on anti-social behaviour.

“The issues we have seen recently are incidents with gangs.

“However anti-social behaviour is not just a policing responsibility.

“We have been asked can we be more pro-active but as you know we are under-going cuts and it looks like we are going to be cut by another 40%.”

Ms Sanderson added that despite the cuts the police were “trying their best” to make Atherton and Atherleigh a safer place and were being as pro active as possible.

She added: “A lot of incidents don’t get reported and we can’t do anything about it if someone doesn’t report it.

“We rely on reports by members of the public.”

Atherleigh Labour Councillor Pamela Stewart said the council has funding and resources to help areas identified as “hot spots” for crime, but said residents needed to continue to report incidents to get the support.

Residents also brought to the attention of police a problem with bus shelters being smashed to which Ms Sanderson said alternative structures were being looked into.

She added: “If you have got young children or relatives the message I would say is, do you know where your children are of a night time?

“We have had incidents of youngsters drinking alcohol and carrying weapons and it poses the question as to what their parents are doing? ”

Following reports of anti-social behaviour in Atherton last month Ms Sanderson revealed that two youths had been given criminal behaviour orders and injunctions to not return to the area.