Residents raise concerns over anti-social behaviour around Kingsway

Residents and businesses around the Kingsway area of Rochdale are calling for continued action to tackle anti-social behaviour, saying a minority of offenders are affecting what is otherwise one of the borough's busiest retail and employment destinations.

Kingsway has undergone significant regeneration over the past two decades, transforming into a major business and retail hub with national retailers, industrial estates, distribution centres and hundreds of jobs. Thousands of people visit the area every day to shop, work and access nearby facilities.

However, some residents and businesses say issues including nuisance behaviour, shoplifting, groups congregating outside retail premises, dangerous driving and road safety concerns have become increasingly noticeable in recent years.

Greater Manchester Police has identified retail crime at Kingsway Retail Park, anti-social behaviour and road safety as neighbourhood policing priorities for the area. Officers say they have carried out targeted operations against shoplifting, increased patrols and undertaken road traffic enforcement to tackle motorists committing offences.

Police have confirmed that numerous arrests have been made for shoplifting at Morrisons in recent months, while dedicated traffic operations have also been carried out along Kingsway to improve road safety. Regular police surgeries are also being held at Kingsway Retail Park to allow residents and businesses to discuss local concerns directly with neighbourhood officers.

For businesses operating on Kingsway, anti-social behaviour can have a wider economic impact. Retailers say persistent shoplifting, disorder and nuisance behaviour place additional pressure on staff while affecting customer confidence. Many businesses have invested heavily in CCTV, security staff and crime prevention measures, working alongside Greater Manchester Police to identify prolific offenders.

Residents have also highlighted concerns over speeding, dangerous driving and the use of modified vehicles on Kingsway, particularly during evenings. Although the vast majority of motorists use the road responsibly, police say road safety remains one of their key neighbourhood priorities alongside tackling retail crime and anti-social behaviour.

Community safety experts say anti-social behaviour often requires more than enforcement alone. Alongside visible policing, long-term solutions typically involve youth engagement, support for vulnerable individuals, environmental improvements, partnership working with businesses and swift action against repeat offenders.

There have been encouraging signs elsewhere in Rochdale. Greater Manchester Police recently reported significant reductions in anti-social behaviour and wider crime within Rochdale town centre following the introduction of Operation Tetbury, a partnership initiative combining targeted policing with regeneration and community engagement. Officers say anti-social behaviour in the town centre fell by more than 30 per cent during the first year of the operation.

Many residents hope a similarly proactive approach around Kingsway will continue to improve the area, ensuring it remains an attractive destination for shoppers, businesses and investors.

The overwhelming majority of people visiting Kingsway do so without experiencing any problems, and local businesses continue to invest confidently in the area. Nevertheless, residents say continued police visibility, partnership working and prompt action against those responsible for anti-social behaviour will be essential to protecting one of Rochdale's most important commercial centres.

Greater Manchester Police encourages anyone witnessing anti-social behaviour or criminal activity to report it online, by calling 101, or by dialling 999 if there is an immediate risk to life or a crime is in progress.