The estate where the troublemakers were...LOCKED OUT

CRACKDOWN WHICH SAW EVERYONE - EXCEPT RESIDENTS - BANNED FROM AREA HAS SEEN A REDUCTION IN CRIME

- GEORGE LYTHGOE

JUST over a month ago, an estate in Rochdale was locked down. Residents were allowed. For everyone else, the Freehold estate was offlimits.

On November 4, police swooped into community. They announced they were closing off the entire area, banning anyone other than those who lived there from accessing the 19 blocks of flats.

The three-month closure order came amidst a litany of reports of crime rocking the estate. Drug dealing was rife and residents were forced to walk past people 'doing their business in the stairwells!

It wasn't the first time the area was thrust into national attention. Last year it was the scene of an unthinkable tragedy when two-year-old Awaab Ishak died in one of its flats following prolonged exposure to mould.

But since then locals say crime has surged, with a targeted GMP operation, Operation Affect, shutting down drug dens and arresting dozens of suspects.

While tenants believe there is still a community spirit, those who spoke to the M.E.N. at the time said they were too scared to leave the house at night. Other tenants feared the shutdown wouldn't do anything to stop the drug dealing and antisocial behaviour that has plagued the estate for years.

Residents welcomed the police intervention against outsiders. According to Greater Manchester Police, they are already seeing positive changes in the space of a month.

Now, more than a month on, GMP say they have already recorded a reduction in anti-social behaviour and drug crimes. The reason being that people are now unable to gather in or outside of the neighbourhood.

A Lydford block tenant told GMP: "This is the best thing to happen around here in a long time. Getting rid of these 'crack heads' from the stairwells made it feel safer for us all."