Friends of the Fallowfield Loop

At the Friends’ meeting on 21 January 2019 we were joined by three members of Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Sergeant Craig Hodson gave an overview of the work that has been undertaken by GMP in combating anti-social behaviour and crime on the Loop and the Yellow Brick Road. Sergeant Hodson presented the meeting with information about the discrepancy between the perceived and actual amount of crime and anti-social behaviour taking place.  Following investigations of reported crime a small number of individuals have been identified as perpetrators of most of the robberies; these individuals are currently on bail awaiting trial. The Fallowfield Loop and Yellow Brick Road have now been incorporated into relevant community policing action plans, and regular foot patrol and drone monitoring is now taking place along the routes and adjacent areas.

PO Lucy Cawood has been identified as the police liaison officer for the Fallowfield Loop. She is happy to work with the Friends, community groups and others who are connected with the Loop, or have any concerns about safety on it.  Lucy joined us at the very successful wassail that we held on 6 January at the Levenshulme Quadrants.

Following the meeting Sergeant Mike Duzinkewycz (East Neighbourhood Team, North Manchester Division) sent us the following:

“I would like to first take the opportunity to reiterate that the Loop is a safe place to commute through and spend your leisure time, and that your local policing teams have taken robust action to tackle a small minority of people who would spoil the Loop for everyone else.  This work will continue and we are committed to supporting the Loop community.  

In terms of personal safety when out and about, there are a few simple steps that are easy and straightforward to take:

• Wear high visibility items of clothing, or clothing with reflective strips, so that you can be easily seen.
• If cycling, always wear suitable safety gear such as a helmet.
• Cyclists ensure that your bike has suitable lighting, but please be respectful of other users and have front-facing lights dipped.
• Walkers ensure you have a torch with you for the hours of darkness.
• Let someone know where you are walking or cycling and when you are expecting to arrive.
• Always wear clothing appropriate to the conditions.
• If possible, travel in groups to support each other.

This list is not intended to be prescriptive, but rather offer general guidance on staying safe in the community.  Further information is widely available through a number of resources such as www.cyclinguk.org and your local Policing Teams are always happy to offer further support and advice.”

NB: As always, if you see anything of concern taking place on the Loop or Yellow Brick Road please inform GMP by calling 999 in an emergency and 101 at other times.

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Over the past six months we have been alerted to a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour, robbery and assault on the Fallowfield Loop and adjoining routes.  This has been a matter of great concern and the Friends have, along with others, raised the matter with the police, Sustrans and other bodies.

There has also been some concern that some of the press coverage has described some incidents as “on the Fallowfield Loop” when in fact they have not been – some have been near to the Loop or on other nearby parts of National Cycle Network Route 60.  However, these crimes are deplorable wherever they occur, and it is promising that the latest news is that police have arrested four people.  The police progress in this is greatly welcomed.

Please remember that if you experience or witness any anti-social behaviour on the Fallowfield Loop the action you should take is: in an emergency call 999, otherwise call the police on 101. Also notify Sustrans on 0161 923 6050 or by email.

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Over the past 6 months we have been alerted to a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour, robbery and assault on the Fallowfield Loop and adjoining routes. This is matter of great concern and Fotfl are, along with others, raising the matter with the police, Sustrans and other bodies. As a result of a Protest Cycle Ride organized by Helen Pidd and others on 17th October, and the following local and national news coverage, Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, promised that his officers would look again at the muggings. We understand that the incidents have now been linked as a “crime series” and are being investigated as part of GMP’s Operation Valiant, which targets personal robberies. If you have concern about anything you experience or witness on the Fallowfield Loop the action you should take is: in an emergency call 999, otherwise call the police on 101. Also notify Sustrans on 0161 923 6050 or by email.

Summary of the report of the protest ride on Wednesday 17th October.

Around 350 people turned out for a protest ride along the Fallowfield Loop and up the “Yellow Brick Road” towards Openshaw on 17 October.

It was organised by Helen Pidd, the Guardian’s North of England editor, after three members of her Manchester-based cycling club, Team Glow, were mugged on the route in the space of a week and she had subsequently become aware of other recent incidents on, or near, to the Fallowfield Loop to which it had been felt there had been an inadequate police response. The weather gods were kind for the protest ride, which set off from Levenshulme Quadrants in golden sunlight. The group split into two, to make it slightly more manageable — and so that Sian could go live on ITV Granada Reports at 6pm, and Helen could race ahead to a GMP building in Claytonbrook to go live on BBC NorthWest Tonight at 6.30pm. It also made the national ITV news the following night, in a report about the rising number of violent crimes going un-investigated by police.

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