Police haven’t lost control on the streets of Tameside, Greater Manchester’s chief constable has insisted - but he's admitted they can't 'get to every single crime and investigate every single crime to the degree the public would wish us to'.

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester on Monday morning, Ian Hopkins said policing cuts meant dealing with lesser crimes was having to make way for ‘murders, serious sexual offences and terrorism’.

It comes after a Manchester Evening News investigation into complaints from residents in Hyde being ‘held to ransom’ by a gang of school-aged thugs reported to be intimidating people and businesses and vandalising cars and homes.

Chief Constable Hopkins was quizzed about the MEN report, and was asked if police had 'lost control' of the streets in Hyde. He replied: “We are a long way from that.

“There are crime hotspots, there always have been and there always will be. Young people very sadly do stupid things when they are growing up.

“I’m well aware of what some young people are doing in and around the stores. It’s not acceptable.”

He also praised Hyde sergeant Alan Sanders for how he and his team were dealing with reports of ‘feral’ youths, some of whom have armed themselves with knives.

But he stressed that ‘seven years of policing cuts’ meant they were ‘stretched dealing with murders, serious sexual offences and terrorism, adding: “The lower level crime - and if you are a victim of it there is no such thing as a low level crime because every crime is distressing - that’s where people are really feeling the impact across Greater Manchester.”

He said they had worked ‘incredibly hard’ to reshape the force, in part by bringing in new technology to enable them to do the job with fewer people.

But he added: “The bottom line is there are 2,000 less people and we are having to make really difficult decisions.”

He said this was challenging when they are dealing with ‘people trying to access children to abuse them, meet up with them to rape them’.”

They were working with mayor Andy Burnham on a plan they could afford, he said, adding: “We are just not able to get to every single crime and investigate every single crime to the degree the public would wish us to.

“We are daily having to assess each and every single incident that comes in and say ‘how much threat is that causing to a community or individual?’

Referring to the battle to get more cash for policing, he added: “Things are really tight we have to continue to keep the pressure up.”

Residents and traders in Hyde told the MEN over the weekend that there are incidents involving ‘feral’ youths - some of whom carry knives - on a daily basis.

They say trouble has ‘spread like the plague’. Some people say they are scared to go out alone at night.

Children, thought to be as young as 10 or 11, have smashed windows and intimidated residents and businesses. They have set fire to bins and pushed them into shops - and vandalised cars and homes.

The thugs, residents say, walk around ‘thinking they’re untouchable’.

Anyone brave enough to stand up to them is verbally abused, or in some cases, attacked.

Things are so bad, a public meeting was called.

Over the weekend, the children’s carousel in the town centre was vandalised by youths, who kicked and punched holes in the wooden boards protecting it.

In September, a market trader was put in hospital after being beaten by a group of boys and girls.

Later the same month, other stall holders were pelted with bottles after telling youths to move away.

A business owner told the Manchester Evening News of the ‘horror’ he and his colleagues face on a daily basis.

“They’re constantly terrorising people, getting right up in their faces, smashing cars in the car park, setting fire to wheelie bins and pushing them against properties,” they said.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

“There are kids walking around with knives. It is terrifying.

“It feels like we are being held to ransom by these kids and it’s affecting business. Footfall is dropping, people don’t want to leave work in the dark because they are scared.

“We are fed up. We pay our rates and our council tax and we deserve to feel protected and safe in our own community.”

It is thought two groups of youths, thought to be aged between 11 and 15, are causing the trouble.

A worker at Clarendon Square Shopping Centre told how colleagues were forced to dodge cans of fizzy drink being launched at them.

Stores such as Iceland, Boots, Asda, Morrisons, Farmfoods and Tesco have been targeted.

Staff and customers are being goaded, threatened, spat at and stock is being stolen, workers say.

In December, a man was viciously attacked at Tesco in Gee Cross.

A shopper, who witnessed the incident, said the victim had confronted a gang of youths trashing a phone box.

“I heard him telling them to stop,” he said.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

“He then followed me into the shop and about half a dozen lads chased after him and dived on him.

“They started punching him in the face, staff managed to get him away and to a room in the back of the shop.

“There was an elderly lady in her 70s there, she was terrified, holding up her walking stick scared they would hurt her too. Little kids were crying.

“Staff managed to get the group out and locked door. No one wanted to leave, everyone felt too intimidated. I walked the lady home in the end, she was so frightened.”

He added: “There can be as many as 30 of them at one time. It’s getting beyond belief. Look at them the wrong way and they will punch you.

“What I’m worried about is the next generation coming through, this is the behaviour they’re seeing and there’s nothing to stop it.”

A Tesco spokesperson confirmed they were aware of the incident - and that the store was ‘working closely with local police to help address anti-social behaviour in the area’.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Mobile phone footage, captured last week, shows a group of youths being thrown out of Asda.

They can be heard verbally berating staff and shoppers.

Police said they are also investigating an arson attack at the former Hyde college building on Clarendon Road.

Police have urged people to report incidents on 101 - and never assume someone else has already done so.

Hyde sergeant Alan Sanders said his team was doing everything in its power to stamp out anti-social behaviour.

“We are aware of a small pocket of individuals that have sadly been targeting businesses in particular in Hyde town centre,” he said.

“Anti-social behaviour is an issue we are fully aware of and neighbourhood officers continue to crack down on the problems and identify key individuals causing concern.

“We have been visiting local schools to speak directly to young people, while patrols have been targeting specific areas where the youths are known to offend and we update the community through our social media page.

“We also use the ASB bus to provide a physical presence which makes it clear to offenders that we are out and about and we will stop them.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

“Officers are also currently in the process of setting up meetings with councillors and traders to discuss the ongoing work and any future plans.

“I want to assure the community that we are doing everything we can to identify those responsible for these mindless acts of vandalism and are working hard to prevent further offences.

“While we carry out this work, we’d ask residents to report any offences to police so we can take swift action.

“If you see anything please call us on 101.”

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