ANTI-social behaviour in Broadheath has decreased by 30 per cent according to police.

The dramatic drop has been attributed to a joint partnership between South Trafford Police and Trafford Housing Trust (THT).

Members of THT's youth involvement and neighbourhood teams have joined forces with PCSOs to undertake highly visible walking tours of neighbourhoods with a reputation for anti-social behaviour.

The project has been funded by the Altrincham Community Panel, a THT-backed fund which aims to empower residents to target resources at community projects they believe are a priority.

Inspector Laura Burgess, of Trafford South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “When we first joined forces with Trafford Housing Trust some suggested a highly visible police presence would discourage young people from engaging with the trust’s staff on the ground.

"However, I’m delighted to say that the combination of Trafford Housing’s youth and neighbourhood teams and our PCSOs has proved to be a very effective way to deal with the sensitive issue of youth engagement and has contributed greatly to the 30 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour in Broadheath.”

As well as being seen 'out on the beat', a key part of the scheme has been proactive engagement with groups of young people and opening up a dialogue with them.

THT youth work apprentice, Amy Nield, has been integral to this engagement process and identifying ways to get young people 'off the street'.

On finding that many teenagers were interested in participating in more organised sport, THT commissioned 'Skillz FC' �– a sports and life skills programme based in Sale – to facilitate a weekly football club Broadheath’s Woodstock Park, which is run in conjunction with FC United.

THT's youth involvement officer, Vicki Duncan, said: “Over the 12 months since its inception the combination of regular trust and police joint walkabouts, a dialogue with young people and the establishment of a popular and accessible sports club has really made a difference to the local community.

"Many of the young people we have engaged with now have a greater respect for our Neighbourhood teams, the police and the local environment and we also have a number of young adults from the area becoming positive role models for local youngsters through the weekly football sessions.”