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Drive away the youth gangs - with Engelbert

From the archive, first published Tuesday 4th Jul 2006.

TOP crooners Barry Manilow and Engelbert Humperdinck could become novel 'weapons' in Audlem's long-standing fight against troublesome youths.

Audlem Parish Council is considering setting up speakers that would play 'uncool' music to drive away gangs of youths from trouble hotspots.

The 'Manilow' method has been so successful in Australia - where youngsters have been dispersed by the sounds of Copacabana and Mandy - that the government is now encouraging local councils to adopt the scheme.

The Local Government Association has even put together a top 20 'dispersal list', which includes Robson and Jerome's Unchained Melody, Humperdinck's Release Me and Sir Cliff Richard's Mistletoe and Wine.

Audlem Parish Council chairman Richard Furber said: "We're looking into it. It's a government-led scheme and we have picked up on it.

"We haven't decided anything yet but it's something we will discuss.

"The problem could be that it would move the trouble elsewhere and they could vandalise the speakers.

"But it's certainly an idea worth looking into."

Particular hotspots to be targeted could include the village's Butter Market, which regularly attracts big gangs of troublesome youngsters due to its central location and the shelter that it provides.

Just two weeks ago an incident in the area led to a fight and the problem is regularly the top priority identified by a public vote at the village's Community Action Meetings.

The Manilow method works on the principle that the youths cannot stand listening to music that is so 'uncool' and will therefore move elsewhere.

The scheme has been successful in other parts of South Cheshire.

In 2005, the Co-Op Late Shop in Shavington piped orchestral music into the store to deter gangs of youths from gathering there.

Staff at the store turned the music on when the youths began to assemble and the initiative was hailed as an immediate success.

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