Spring clean sweeps up 2,000 criminals in one operation

Nearly 2,000 criminals were swept off the streets as part of GMP's largest offender targeting operation

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Nearly 2,000 criminals were swept off the streets as part of GMP's largest offender targeting operation.

Officers from across the force targeted the county’s most wanted criminals in a bid to spring clean crime between 25 March and 14 April 2013.

It resulted in the arrest of 1,927 people and police executed 285 warrants in a bid to clamp down on overall crime. A total of £69,990 was also seized and officers carried out disruption visits to 3,163 known offenders within the region. Arrests were for a variety of offences including robbery, drug-related crime, burglary, driving offences, domestic abuse and rape.

Six arrests were made as a direct result of information from the public who saw wanted offenders on ad vans used in Manchester and Rochdale and one offender handed himself in over fears his face would be on screen next.

The operation was made up of a number of days of action carried out throughout the force by various policing teams and partner agencies such as social services, Trading Standards and SOCA (serious and organised crime agency).

Cannabis factories were found in Salford and Wigan, eight people were charged for organised crime in Oldham and 36 arrests were made as part of a drugs operation in North Manchester.

Eighty three arrests and sixty three charges were made as part of an operation to target offenders of vulnerability crimes such as rape, sexual assault, domestic abuse and child protection offences. Sixty three of those arrested have been charged and 439 referrals were made to partner agencies such as social services.

The Xcalibre Task Force, a policing team that tackles gun and gang-related crime, worked with officers in Trafford to carry out eight firearms warrants on an organised crime group. Seven people were arrested after quantities of cocaine and cannabis were seized along with £1000.

Officers also worked within communities to engage with young people. A youth bus was used in south Manchester during school holidays, 87 school visits were carried out and 145 community crime surgeries were held by neighbourhood officers and police community support officers.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett for Greater Manchester Police, said: “This operation has been one of our most successful forcewide operations to date with so many criminals being arrested and swept up off our streets.

“We have been working hard to clean our streets of the offenders causing the most harm to our communities, this is reflected in the overall results. As this operation has drawn to a close it is still business as usual for Greater Manchester Police.

“We will still be out there on the streets keeping people safe, supporting victims of crime and tracking down our wanted criminals. My advice to anyone who knows that they are wanted would be to hand yourself in as you are still on our target list.”

If you are concerned about crime or antisocial behaviour where you live please call police on 101 or for more information visit www.gmp.police.uk

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

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