Crime falls after notorious caravan site shuts

Crompton Lodge caravan park was plagued by guns, drugs and violent crime

The closure of a council-owned caravan park which saw a range of violent and disorderly incidents has seen crime rates fall in the area, the authority has said.

Crompton Lodge caravan park in Moses Gate, Bolton, was ordered to close just over a year ago.

At the time Greater Manchester Police said alleged incidents at the site owned by Bolton Council included the seizure of guns, drugs and stolen vehicles as well as violent offences against council staff.

The council has said that following the intervention, incidents of anti-social behaviour, organised crime and other criminal activity have fallen drastically - by 76% in the 12 months since its closure according to police data - in the area surrounding Crompton Lodge.

Meanwhile, other recorded police incidents, including anti-social behaviour, fell from 99 in the year before to 35, marking a 64% reduction, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council began legal proceedings to close Crompton Lodge in June 2024 following several high-profile incidents which prompted serious concerns among local residents.

'Public safety'

The council said the six months leading up to legal action saw an escalation in the level of violence and criminality, culminating in a serious attack on a council liaison officer.

Following a police investigation into the illegal abstraction of electricity at the site, thousand of pounds were spent on network repairs to make the area safe for residents.

Councillor Sean Fielding said: "While legal action comes with inevitable cost, this is weighed against the ongoing expenditure that would have been incurred if the site had been kept open.

"We cannot put a price on the safety and wellbeing of the public."