A DROYLSDEN crimewatch group which has come under scrutiny from Greater Manchester Police insists its members are not vigilantes but just want to do their bit to help the community.
The CRIMEWATCHERS Facebook page, which has nearly 5,400 likes, describes itself as a ‘place to report crime’ happening in the Audenshaw and Droylsden areas.
But Tameside West Neighbourhood Inspector Stuart Smith expressed concern for their safety in an official statement.
He said: “I do understand the sentiments of the Droylsden patrollers; they want to support the community where they live.
“If it was a case of just patrolling the streets and reporting suspicious activity to the police in order for us to deal with, there would be no issue.
“However, by their own admission, this is not the case. I am as concerned for the activities of the Patrollers as I am for their own safety.”
But the group insists they are not taking the law into their own hands, stating that they actively work with their local police units to report and help deter crime.
A CRIMEWATCHERS representative said: “We are not sure what has been said to GMP but there is so much more to what we do than merely report crime in our local areas.
“We have an excellent relationship with the police on our streets. We have had nothing but positive feedback from every officer we have spoken to so far.
“We have nothing but good things to say about the manner in which they treated us and the respect they have shown us.
“We are not vigilantes. We are people who care about our local areas and the people who live there, and we just want to do our part to help the police do their job.”
Hundreds of locals have voiced their support of the group on social media, with many sharing their experiences of help they have received from CRIMEWATCHERS volunteers.
One woman explained how they helped arrange a locksmith after she locked her keys in her house and was unable to get to her medication.
Another described them as “worth their weight in gold” when a volunteer brought her flowers and took the time to reassure her after thieves broke into her house.
The CRIMEWATCHERS representative continued: “We care deeply for our communities. Our volunteers don’t just patrol the streets to deter anti-social behaviour.
“We’re always out litter picking and at Christmas we handed out selection boxes. We’re even trying to raise money to open a gym to deter young people from loitering on the street.”
Since speaking to the group, they have raised funds for equipment, insurance and training to resume their patrols.