Brinnington featured as the object of a case study on anti-social behaviour for the BBC Radio 4 programme 'File on 4'.  

Reporter Alys Harte explained that the area was chosen "not because it's the worst for ASB - it's not, not by a long shot - but because it could be anywhere; an ordinary housing estate in England which has had difficulty shaking its reputation for trouble."

The programme is described as a "current affairs documentary series investigating major issues at home and abroad". Radio 4 boasts around 9.3 million listeners per week.  

The programme investigated how people in the area experienced and dealt with ASB. Harte spoke to a number of people working to curb ASB in the area; litter pickers, youth-club organisers, campaigners, and a rail-station worker who set up a swap-shop which helped reduce incidents around the station. 

 It comes as the government recently announced a plan to crack down on anti-social behaviour earlier this year. This plan includes 'hotspot policing', targeting the worst-affected areas.  

Only recently, Greater Manchester Police announced plans to increase police presence and further improve community safety. 

One resident said "[Police] are coming around, but they don't seem to be doing a lot with what our problem is."

Another pointed out that Brinnington has a higher proportion of young people, meaning there are more 'youths' on the streets. The area also suffers from poverty more than elsewhere in Stockport.  

Incidents described ranged from throwing objects, arson, riding illegal motorcycles, and more. 

Mary Dutton MBE - awarded for services to the community - said emotionally, "we just want to see something done before we die. Something where we can go, 'yes, we did that'". 

Radio 4 reporters - in the area for around two months - tried to arrange a meeting with Stockport Council, the police, and the local housing associaton.  

However, the council pulled out, prompting the police and the housing association to do so too. Harte said: "The decision of the council made it difficult for the police or the housing association to be involved, because they are a partnership and they need to be united on it. 

"[...] It's hard to show what positive work the authorities are doing when they don't want to be interviewed. 

"Stockport Council told us they didn't want to take part because they believed the programme to single out Brinnington as a problem area."

The programme featured lots of residents doing work to tackle ASB in the area, and seemed to end optimistically. There was still, however, strong emphasis on the number of incidents and the perceived danger of the area.  

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