POLICE are to clamp down on a crimewave connected with men who meet for sex in woodland around Worsley village’s car park.
From tomorrow, Friday, August 1, police will be running Operation Inkjet, in a bid to end criminal behaviour in the woods surrounding the car park in Barton Road.
But their campaign has been heavily criticised by councillor Graham Compton who said: "We welcome police involvement in trying to solve the problem but what exactly are they going to do?
"They say they will be carrying out patrols around the woods and will only arrest those committing a criminal offence.
"Quite frankly, it is an empty PR exercise designed to make it looks as though the police are doing something.
"The problem around the car park has nothing to do with the gay or lesbian communities - and we applaud the police for acknowledging that.
"The real problem, and its one that Worsley residents have put up with for almost 15 years, is that the car park has become a meeting place for men having sex with other men.
"They can be seen by nearby residents and sometimes approach innocent motorists who are using the car park.
"If what they are doing isn’t criminal, the police aren’t going to stop them - so what’s the point?"
Police say Operation Inkjet will address the problem because many of the encounters have been linked to assaults and it’s these they will be cracking down on.
A mobile police station will be located in the area to reassure residents, and uniformed officers from the Salford West Neighbourhood Policing Team will carry out high-visibility patrols.
Plain-clothes officers will also patrol the area, signs will be put up and leaflets placed on windscreens.
Howard Lawrenson, Community and Race Relations Officer for Salford Division, said: "This is not about targeting the gay community. It is about acting on residents’ concerns and wanting to make the woods safe for everyone.
"If you have been a victim of crime in the woods, please understand that our sole priority is catching those responsible. We are not interested in why you were there and you can be sure that we will treat you with respect and in confidence."
For further information, please contact the Salford West Neighbourhood Policing Team on: 0161 856 5284 or e-mail: salfordwest.neighbourhood@gmp.police.uk.
To report crime, call police on: 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.
