Crime and safety news
Oldham Police have stepped up town-centre patrols this week, telling shoppers and shop staff they will stay visible until the last stores close on Christmas Eve.
The promise came as officers revealed they secured a Closure Order on a Waterhead house that neighbours say had become an open drug market. The property must stay sealed for three months.
Council prosecutors have also been busy. A nursery and its two directors were fined £5,700 after inspectors found dirty kitchens and out-of-date food. A private-hire driver who kept working after his licence was suspended was ordered to pay £4,600.
The crackdown stretches back through the year. In May, another Waterhead house was shut for theft, noise and drug activity. Last December, trading-standards officers, police and the RSPCA seized 18 dogs and arrested two men, aged 35 and 42, in Chadderton.
National Hate Crime Awareness Week has just ended, and neighbourhood teams say they will keep recording every slur or assault reported. They insist the message is simple: hate crimes have no place in Oldham.
At a Glance
| Christmas patrol window | Until final shops close on 24 Dec 2025 |
|---|---|
| Waterhead drug house closure length | 3-month Closure Order granted 20 Dec 2024 |
| Nursery hygiene fine | £5,700 total, imposed 29 Nov 2024 |
| Unlicensed taxi driver penalty | £4,600 prosecution bill, 26 Sep 2024 |
| Dogs seized in Chadderton raid | 18 dogs removed, two men arrested 21 Dec 2023 |
Community Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to contribute context.
Leave a Comment