Dramatic crime reduction over bonfire period

Photo: Jan Harwood

This bonfire at Birch Hill was attended by the Fire and Rescue service at least three times on Bonfire Night but they deemed that it was safe.

Greater Manchester saved more than half a million pounds during the Halloween and Bonfire Night period following a dramatic reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour.

Arson, criminal damage, anti-social behaviour and call outs to small fires were all down during the two-week period compared to 2007.

The savings are a result of a safer, more trouble-free Bonfire Night period and have been attributed to the combined efforts of police operation Treacle. This was a joint initiative by Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Trading Standards, the Health and Safety Executive, local authorities, Greater Manchester Transport Executive and Chambers of Commerce.

Results revealed that arson was down 31.1% and the number of call outs to small fires in the open was reduced by 2.4%. There was a 24.5% reduction in criminal damage and anti-social behaviour was 14.8% lower than last year.

Treacle was an initiative designed to tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce injuries caused by fireworks. It also worked to provide assurance to the public that such actions won’t be tolerated.

Chief Inspector Phil Unsworth of Greater Manchester Police said: “The success of Treacle is due to a number of factors including the early planning undertaken by all agencies involved and the lessons learnt from last year. The joint marketing campaign was extremely effective and shows that people have listened to our safety messages and there were high attendance levels at organised firework displays. Greater Manchester Police undertook a number of high profile operations to curb the predicted rise in anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.”

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service reported a 14% reduction in bonfire-related incidents attended by the Fire Service and a reduction in firework-related incidents of 33%.

Assistant Conty Fire Officer Steve Beckley said: “Working with our partner agencies in a variety of initiatives, such as the Fireworks Amnesty, has helped reduce the impact of bonfires and fireworks have on our communities, which is a very positive result.”

Another factor contributing to the safer Halloween and Bonfire Night period was the increased responsibility taken by retailers when selling fireworks.

Graeme Levy, spokesperson for Greater Manchester Trading Standards said: “Visits to firework retailers were again prioritised this year, with a range of advisory and enforcement approachs. Where we sent an under age volunteer in to premises to test for an illegal sale they were refused on 130 occasions out of 140. The ten shops who sold will face action, including prosecution.”

GMPTE's Interim Service Delivery Director, Michael Renshaw, added: "We work closely with the police and other partnership agencies to help and support them in their various initiatives and to help keep public transport safe. Anti-social behaviour on public transport is rare but we encourage any activity that helps to reassure passengers that this is the case."