A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of two public order offences in incidents reported in the Astley and Aspull areas. The arrest took place on Friday, August 4, 2023, as part of an ongoing investigation into the reported offences.
The arrest comes after concerns were raised about incidents that occurred in these areas, particularly along canal tow paths, which have left individuals, especially lone women, feeling vulnerable while walking. In response to these concerns, bail conditions have been imposed on the arrested man.
The bail conditions prohibit the individual from accessing any canal tow path and from approaching any lone female. Inspector Sam Davies from GMP’s Wigan District emphasised the importance of addressing such incidents to enhance the safety and security of the local community.
Davies stated, “By making an arrest like this, we hope people will start to feel safer in their local areas. We want to reassure the public that we have been listening to, and dealing with, their concerns.”
He encouraged individuals with any information about these incidents or similar incidents to come forward and report to the police through appropriate channels. While social media can be a useful tool, Davies emphasised that it is not monitored 24/7 and should not be used to report concerns or criminal activities.
Davies also urged victims or witnesses who come across situations that don’t feel right to report them promptly. Individuals can report crimes to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) by calling 101 or dialling 999 in emergencies.
