Purge on the unruly village visitors

Photo: Paul Sterritt

TOUGH action - Sgt Neil Barker, of the Saddleworth policing team

A Saddleworth village that has become a magnet for night-time revellers is to be the focus of a major anti-drugs and antisocial behaviour initiative.

There has been a steady increase in the number of visitors boosting the night-time economy in Uppermill.

But now, Operation Sandstorm, targeting drugs and antisocial behaviour, launches across all the villages on Friday, November 25.

The initiative has been running across the Oldham area for a number of years, targeting activities that go in tandem with the town's busier nightspots and venues.

Police say under Sandstorm there has been a great deal of success in reassuring local communities through targeted police deployment working in partnership with the Oldham Council licensing department and the well-established Pub Watch scheme.

The operation will run right through to the Christmas period and has been put in place by the Saddleworth neighbourhood policing team in answer to an increase in drug-related incidents.

Sergeant Neil Barker, of the Saddleworth policing team, said: "What we are not saying here is that Saddleworth has a major drug epidemic - but we are seeing subtle changes.

"New faces are attending from as far away as Salford, Wigan and Stockport, mainly into Uppermill, each weekend.

"It is apparent a small minority of people attending the pubs and bars in Saddleworth are also using controlled drugs.

"Through visits to pubs and bars, it is apparent that not only cannabis possession is an issue but harder drugs such as cocaine now feature, with a number of establishments recently showing traces of cocaine when tested."

He added:"Uppermill and the wider Saddleworth area is not unique here. However, we want to shine a light on this area of our police work.

"This will not only reassure the local community but send out a clear message that we have a Zero Tolerance Zone in Saddleworth: no drugs, no ASB, no excuses.

"If we have people brought to our attention, either by licensees, their management or through our contact, then they will not only be banned from one establishment, but under the Pub Watch Scheme they will be banned from all establishments across the Oldham area."

On the launch weekend, officers will be using a mobile police station parked at Saddleworth museum car park, encouraging locals to meet the team and collect leaflets and information around how they tackle this area of police work.

A social media campaign will run with the hashtag: #ZTTD&ASB zero tolerance to drugs and antisocial behaviour.