On the evening of Monday, January 27, chaos erupted at Salford Precinct as a group of around 20 youths in balaclavas targeted people and property. The disturbance was significant enough that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received only one call regarding the incident at 6:30 PM, with the full extent of the events becoming clear only later through CCTV footage analysis.

Before officers arrived, the situation turned chaotic. Members of the public were reportedly assaulted with fire extinguishers stolen from the precinct, and the youths were seen jumping on vehicles. Additionally, items were stolen from a grocery shop and thrown at buses, with bins set ablaze.

The reviewing of extensive CCTV footage revealed further criminal behavior, including shoplifting and damage to shop signage. Despite the multitude of crimes witnessed, it was only after thorough investigations that GMP identified three main offenders involved in the night’s events.

In a statement on February 13, GMP confirmed that one of the three youths had been arrested, while the others participated in voluntary interviews. All admitted their involvement in the crimes and have since been referred to youth offending services for intervention. They have also received formal bans from Salford Precinct.

A spokesperson for GMP Salford noted that the Salford Central Team 3 has proactively addressed these incidents, leading to a significant reduction in anti-social behavior in the area. However, they highlighted a concerning lack of reporting from the community, urging residents to report any instances of anti-social behavior to GMP via phone at 101 or through the GMP Online Report, assuring anonymity for all reports.

Residents can also reach out to their local Neighbourhood Police Sergeant for Pendleton & Charlestown, PS 13490 Atherton, via email at 13490@gmp.police.uk.