Pre-Christmas crackdown on crime

Police preparing for Operation Bauble - a pre-Christmas crack down on crime

A pre-Christmas crackdown on crime has been launched by Greater Manchester Police today (5 December) with a day of action taking place across Rochdale with warrants, ANPR operations and taxi licensing operations.

Up to 80 officers gathered at Rochdale Town Hall this morning before heading out across the borough.

Chief Inspector Chris Hill from Rochdale Police said: “By the end of the day today, we want our cells full with the people who are wanted. Just because it is Christmas it doesn’t mean that we rest on our laurels.”

The operation – codenamed Bauble – will see more than 800 officers over 12 high profile days tackling a range of crimes including burglary, domestic abuse and criminality on the roads.

Chief Inspector Umer Khan of Rochdale Police said: “With an operation like this it is about helping people and showing that there is a police presence at Christmas. It is sort of like election night with so many different results coming in from the different teams across Rochdale.”

Local officers were supported by special constables and specialist units including traffic, mounted officers, tactical aid units, dog handlers and intercept ANPR teams.

Before 10am, a number of warrants were executed and arrests were made across Rochdale: 

• Officers executed a warrant on a house in Newhey where a cannabis farm was found.
• A 27-year-old man from Rochdale was arrested for money laundering.
• A 42-year-old female from Heywood was arrested in connection with drug related offences after a court warrant was issued. 

By 11:45am, the operation had seen five people arrested, four vehicles seized, 30 cannabis plants seized and the Traffic Team doing road safety operations.

Superintendent Craig Thompson from Specialist Operations said: “Operation Bauble sends a very clear warning to offenders that we will not be winding down for Christmas and letting them go on their merry way.

“Using officers and specialist units from across the force, we intend on blitzing crime and stopping offenders in their tracks so that the only Christmas they’ll be looking forward to is with us.”

Over the next month police will execute 12 high profile days of action as part of a pre-emptive strike on criminals who spread misery in the run up to Christmas.