VIGILANTE groups have been set up in part of Leigh to combat crime because residents claim the police are not doing enough.

And residents in Hope Carr and Siddow Common claim drugs are sold openly on their streets with burglaries also being publicly discussed.

Now disgruntled locals have said 'enough is enough', and unless police act soon to tackle the spiralling problem they have threatened to sort it out themselves.

Carol Isherwood, Area Co-ordinator for Hope Carr Home Watch, says the loss of their community policeman in January this year has lead to an unprecedented increase in crime in the area.

In a letter sent to councillors, senior police officers and local MP Lawrence Cunliffe, Mrs. Isherwood said: "Some of the problems we have recently been experiencing are drugs sold on the street, burglaries being discussed openly in public, used syringes left in public areas, motorcycles being raced in Rugby Road and the adjoining backs, speeding down Siddow Common and Bonneywell Road and vehicles blocking access to the backs on Harrow Crescent and Eaton Street."

She added that the recent wave of crime has "called into question the ability of the police to deal with the situation".

Mrs. Isherwood says local people have been left with the impression that the police are unable to assist with their problems after suffering from loss of damage.

She said: "This has lead to the formation of a vigilante group who have stated that unless the police respond in a more visible way within a month, they are willing to take the law into their own hands to effect a solution.

"After a spate of burglaries in the Siddow Common area, a second group has threatened to sort the problem out themselves. This could lead to open warfare on the streets unless action is taken very quickly."

Ch Insp Steve Westcott said talk of vigilante groups was unhelpful.

"I would deplore any suggestion of such groups taking action. If anyone takes the law into their own hands then action will be taken against them as well and it will not be helpful in resolving the problems of the area."

Mr Westcott confirmed that there had been a temporary police staffing difficulty caused by sick leave.

"And while noting the concerns about the level of crime and anti-social behaviour, we would refute that it is an exception or any worse than any oher area of the sub-division. We will continue to talk to Mrs Inserwood and her group to give them our support." LEIGH police station had to close their reception desk for one lunchtime because of civilian staff shortages.

Now, a public telephone is to be installed outside so that the public can contact the police 24 hours a day.

Ch Insp Steve Westcott said the closure was a temporary situation which he did not envisage happening again. An inquiry has been launched to see how the sitation arose.

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