Councillor slams police

Councillor Jean Ashworth has slammed Rochdale Police following a call she made about a group of between 30 and 40 Asian youths she witnessed smahing a car up on Woodbine Street on Sunday evening (30 September). The car had been abandoned in the street two weeks ago and Councillor Ashworth had reported it last week when there was very little damage to it other than a dent on the drivers side.

However, the car was still in the same place when she took her grandson home last night and she saw that the front window had been smashed.

Later in the evening she witnessed youths running down the road hurtling bricks through all of the windows, she immediately telephoned 999, and was given a log number, and went outside to hear the youths saying they were coming back to "torch it" at 9.15pm. Councillor Ashworth telephoned 999 again and asked for an immediate police response as the large gang were "really intimidating".

Councillor Ashworth said: "It was a really frightening situation, I stood outside as my car was parked opposite. Two police officers arrived and were quite shocked to see the large number of youths and also the amount of damaged caused to the car. I expressed my concern and asked if the car would be removed, they said they didn't know and had to wait for instructions from headquaters.

The officers left the scene at 10.25pm without any confirmation the car would be removed.

Councillor Ashworth said in repsonse: "I am furious at the police, the car should have been removed."