According to reports in the Manchester Evening News Police are looking for the sale of Fireworks to be banned due to the amount of attacks taking place in the Tameside area.
The year before, two police officers were injured after being surrounded by a 60-strong gang of yobs who threw fireworks at them, smashing through the window of their car.
The trouble in Tameside over the years has often sparked debate over the sale of fireworks to the public.
Last year GMP’s Chief Constable Ian Hopkins called for a ban, and in February this year the Government’s Petition Committee launched an inquiry – understood to still be underway.
As it stands, the law states anyone over the age of 18 can buy fireworks – but they are only on sale from October 15 to November 10, December 26-31, and three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year.
But it seems that this year gangs of kids – some thought to be as young as eight – have got hold of the potentially dangerous explosives early.
Images shared on social media show groups of young Asian lads standing in the streets of Ashton St Peters firing rockets towards each other from their bare hand
They’ve also been shot towards homes and cars, as well as innocent passers-by.
Few dare to confront the yobs – those who do are often met with a tirade of abuse.
As well as fireworks, the gang have also been lighting fires – footage of which was captured by residents on Thursday night after fire crews were called out to extinguish it.
They have also been throwing eggs at homes and people and hanging around entrances and doorways, intimidating those who live there – some of who are elderly and vulnterable.
For police, tackling anti-social behaviour on Ashton St Peters is a top priority, but dwindling numbers and budget cuts – even the layout of the estate itself – does present challenges.
Operation Desperado saw GMP Tameside bosses last year draft in extra resources to help combat the problem.
They patrolled known trouble hotspots and carried out stop and searches.
Fireworks were seized, arrests made, and dispersal orders put in place in areas such as King George V Park stopping gangs of teenagers from meeting and gathering there.
Tameside North inspector Lee Derbyshire says this pro-active work will continue, but believes the simple solution to solve the issue for good would be to ban fireworks from public sale.
A poll on The Tameside Hangout Facebook Page asking should there be a ban had almost 900 responses – with more than two thirds agreeing they should no longer be sold publically.
Others argued why should responsible users be stopped from enjoying them, saying that instead there should be tougher laws to punish those who don’t use them responsibly and put others at risk.
Insp Derbyshire added: “Our local policing team, partner agencies and community have put a lot of time and effort into tackling fireworks related anti-social behaviour and are continuing this work again this year.
“The simple solution to this issue across the country would be for fireworks to no longer be openly available to the public for sale, and until this happens I believe we will inevitably always encounter some amount of related issues.”
This comes as the Tameside are of Manchester is beset by a whole host of social issues that includes murders and long running gang related issues.
