BOLTON North neighbourhood policing teams patrolled problem areas over the weekend as part of their crackdown on anti-social behaviour

Officers went out on hi-visibility patrols around Breightmet, Astley Bridge and Tonge Moor on Friday evening.

They visited hotspot areas identified by residents including St Catherine’s Academy, Savick Avenue and Sharples Avenue.

Speaking about what action will be taken following the patrols, GMP Bolton North tweeted: “Many names of local youths involved in ASB were taken and positive action will now be taken with partner agencies to ensure these issues are resolved.”

On Saturday, the Bolton North neighbourhood team stepped up their mobile patrols to include central and west Bolton.

A large part of it concentrated on disrupting drug dealing around Westpoint View apartments, in Garside Street.

They also moved on youths at Sainsbury’s, Westhoughton and the rear of Heaton Road, Lostock as they were deemed to be behaving in an anti-social manner to local residents,

Officers also conducted reassurance patrols around Queen’s Park and enforced the Bolton Exclusion Zone regarding aggressive begging in and around the arterial routes of Bolton town centre.

The patrols are part of Greater Manchester Police’s Safe 4 Summer campaign, which aims to tackle anti-social behaviour and make the streets safe during the summer months.

Last week, council leader Cllr David Greenhalgh expressed concerns about the levels of anti-social behaviour in his ward of Bromley Cross and urged police to have a zero-tolerance approach.

He said: “It isn’t just groups of people congregating, they are up to no good as well.

“The problem with something like this is that we are only dispersing it, which is why we have got the outreach teams travelling around the are.

“It’s a really challenging issue but we are doing all we can. We want to pursue the police to have a zero tolerance approach.

“It’s not that these kids have no were to go because they are actually intimidating younger children who are involved in clubs or sports and trying to ruin it for them as well.

“When we come to ask for the funding for this next time they will look for data and we need that data to support what we’re seeing in the streets.”

To report a crime, call police on 101.

Crime can also be reported online by visiting gmp.police.uk and using the live chat feature or clicking ‘report’.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.