Passengers and tram staff are being promised their safety comes first after the latest incident of 'intimidation' at a Metrolink station.
Radcliffe's tram stop was hit by a wave of disorder last autumn, when two teenagers were allegedly attacked in the space of two months, while mindless vandals smashed up tram windows in August.
Last night (January 9), police issued a dispersal order on Radcliffe tram station and car park, which currently remains in place today (Monday) until 5.45pm.
The order gives officers powers to move anyone away who is either causing or likely to cause anti-social behaviour, with anyone ignoring police's directions risking arrest.
Greater Manchester Police says the move comes after a large group of youths became abusive to officers and Metrolink staff during an incident yesterday, before they were moved on.
No arrests have been made since the order was implemented on Sunday night, GMP told the Manchester Evening News .
Kate Green, Transport for Greater Manchester's TravelSafe Partnership manager, said: “Our customers and staff have the right to use the public transport network safely and the TravelSafe Partnership work closely with district policing teams to ensure that this is the case.
“We welcome this dispersal order and hope it helps to illustrate that abuse of our staff will not be tolerated.
"There will be enhanced monitoring in place at Radcliffe for the duration of this order to ensure compliance.”
Coun Carol Birchmore, who represents Radcliffe East, was due to meet with police today to discuss the latest incident of anti-social behaviour at the station.
She says the issue is causing concern in the community - but believes the youths could be travelling into town from elsewhere in Greater Manchester before causing trouble.
"It's groups that are meeting at the Metrolink station but they are not necessarily local from the area," said Coun Birchmore.
"Obviously it's a Metrolink station, so people can get here from anywhere there.
"We do work with the police, we're really lucky in Radcliffe that we have got a good community and people work together better than in other areas.
"Residents have got concerns about it, obviously the council is trying to put measures in place as well to help it."
It's understood officers had been called to an area around the Metrolink stop in the centre of Radcliffe in response to a large gang causing trouble yesterday evening.
There were no reports of any injuries.
In a statement released last night, Sgt Irish of GMP's Radcliffe neighbourhood team said: "Members of the public and tram passengers do not need to feel harassed and intimidated by large groups of youths causing issues on public transport.
"The incident earlier saw Radcliffe neighbourhood and Bury response patrols deployed to disperse this gang when they became abusive to tram staff.
"This group was dispersed in a timely manner.
"Additional patrols will pay attention to the tram stop going forward, in order to enforce the order handed out today."
Anti-social behaviour incidents can be reported to GMP by calling 101, online at the force's website, or by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Always dial 999 in an emergency.
