Non-residents banned from flats plagued by drugs

Non-residents have been banned from gathering at a housing estate plagued by drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour.

For the next three months, police have ordered the closure of 19 blocks of flats on the Freehold estate in Rochdale to non-residents.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it wanted to stop criminals entering an area which had seen "incessant drug dealing" and intimidation of residents.

Under the force's first use of an Open Space Closure Order Zone, non-residents are banned from congregating near the flats' stairwells, landings, bridges and refuse chutes.

Since December, GMP said it had made 40 arrests in the area as well as seizing drugs, cash and weapons.

Flats have also been repossessed and problem tenants evicted.

Insp Meena Yasin said the new closure zone was a "revolutionary way (of using existing laws) to protect our communities in the place they call home".

She said: "If we identify people who are entering the neighbourhood without permission or to commit crime, we can arrest and remove them."

GMP said it had taken action following extensive consultation with the local community and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing.

To help enforce the new closure zones, police patrols will be stepped up day and night, the force said.

A spokesman said residents' lawful day-to-day activities would not be affected.

Rather, officers "will be able to more effectively remove criminals who are loitering in the stairwells or public spaces, committing crime or anti-social behaviour".

Samir Ali, who has lived on the Freehold estate for 14 year, said the crackdown was welcomed, but added the estate had been improving in recent years.

"There used to be riots and all that around here,” he said, adding the area had changed for better "because it’s now a more mixed community and people have no trouble walking about".

One man, who did not want to be named, told BBC Radio Manchester the social housing estate was "not as bad people think".

"But there are certain people who do hang out in groups and sell drugs around here," he said.

"It's not really safe living around here , but police are trying their absolute best."

Alex Kanda has lived in the Freehold for a decade, and said for him, things had improved.

"It's better now because it's getting quieter, at night you couldn't sleep for the noise, people shouting and swearing late at night, guys being drunk, but now we sleep well," the 62-year-old said.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.