Children 'banned' from playing football in street by police after 'anti-social behaviour complaints'

Danielle Ladkin with her three young boys Slade, Charley and Max [PHOTO: COURTESY]

Children have reportedly been 'banned' from playing football in the street by police because of complaints of anti-social behaviour.

Officers posted a letter to every home on Goring Avenue in Gorton, Greater Manchester asking parents to stop youngsters playing ball games in the street.

There had been a number of complaints about nuisance behaviour and damage to cars and properties.

It warns that officials would have to consider ‘what steps could be taken’ if complaints continue, reports Manchester Evening News.

Some parents have blasted the ‘ridiculous’ move and will take the case to their MP Gerald Kaufman.

The letter, penned jointly by GMP, the city council and Arcon Housing, says they are ‘concerned that the matter is becoming a serious problem for a number of local residents’ who had complained of nuisance and damage to cars and homes.

It adds: “We would hope that parents with children in the area are mindful of their young ones’ activities and in particular give due care and consideration to their neighbours by not allowing their children to play ball games in the street or to congregate in large groups on the street.

"Wherever possible, we would ask that children play in their own gardens or consider finding somewhere else safe to play such as a park.”

The letter adds that if complaints continue ‘we would have to investigate this further and consider what steps could be taken’.

It has angered some parents on the street, who are threatening legal action.

Mother-of-three Danielle Ladkin, 33, whose three sons Max, seven, Slade, eight, and Charlie, 13, regularly play football in Goring Avenue, said: “We’ve lived here 14 years.

"It’s a real family street and always has been with about 24 children aged from six to ten or eleven playing football or kerby or other children’s games.

"We’re not talking gangs of teenagers.

“You could understand it if a ball was constantly banging against your property or kids were constantly asking to get their balls back, but it’s not like that at all.

"They are just playing football, tig or riding their bike. I can’t speak for other children but at this time of year my children are back home at 6.30pm. In the summer it’s a bit later until 9pm.

“They’re trying to portray us as nightmare families but we’re not. The nearest field is ten minutes’ walk away.

“They are a group of lovely children. Not all the kids are whiter than white, but they are just being mischievious. None of them are really naughty. Now they are afraid to play out on their own street. They’ve been banned. It’s ridiculous.”

A spokeswoman for GMP directed the M.E.N. to the council as the ‘lead agency’ on the matter.

Coun Nigel Murphy, Manchester council executive member for neighbourhoods, said: “We do not want to ruin anyone’s fun or discourage children from playing outside.

“However playing in the road can be dangerous - so we would ask that young people and parents use more appropriate safe spaces, such as nearby parks.”

The M.E.N. has asked Arcon Housing for a comment.