Busiest night of the year for treacle

Want to buy this photo?

Firework display

A hard hitting campaign launched by emergency services in Greater Manchester has been hailed a tremendous success after the number of incidents reduced.

Members of the innovative Treacle Partnership, which includes Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue and Greater Manchester Police working in partnership with other local agencies, said the number of incidents around the Bonfire Night celebrations had reduced.

On Bonfire Night itself, Friday 5  November, the fire service took 437 emergency calls – a dramatic 28 percent reduction from 2009.
 
Chairman of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority Councillor Paul Shannon said: “The Treacle Partnership launched a campaign early in the autumn to highlight the dangers of fireworks and bonfires with its ‘Lets Face It’ campaign.
 
“This awareness campaign has helped reduce the number of incidents but let’s not forget the people at the fire service, especially on the front line taking calls and attending incidents still experienced one of the busiest times of the year and performed brilliant in keeping people safe.”
 
Inspector Lin Houldershaw of Greater Manchester Police said: “This year's commitment to the Treacle Partnership has been greater than ever; with GMP and GMFRS working with colleagues in Trading Standards and local councils working together to ensure most people had a safe and enjoyable bonfire and Hallowe’en experience.

"Incidents of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage reduced compared with the same period last year and that is despite both events falling on a weekend, which increases their popularity.”

Despite the general success of the campaign, Treacle revealed that firework related incidents had increased despite the number of educational visits to schools and seizures of more than 1,800 illegal and dangerous fireworks.

Inspector Lin Houldershaw added: “Police officers were out in force and conducted 1,255 stop and searches resulting in the seizure of illegal bangers and similar fireworks that should not be available to under 18s. 

“Treacle will continue to go from strength to strength to ensure our communities have a safe and enjoyable time.”

Treacle Partnership is a multi agency collaboration to reduce the impact of Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night on communities in Greater Manchester particularly targeting antisocial behaviour, inappropriate sales and misuse of fireworks and reducing firework injuries and accidental property fires caused by bonfires.

The partnership is made up of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Health and Safety Executive and representatives from the ten metropolitan local authorities.