City of Manchester District Brief - March 2024

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN THE CITY

Colleagues, I’d like to thank you once again for your consistent support and resilience in the face of what continues to be a busy time for the City of Manchester.

We are seeing increased protest activity due to the global political environment which has undoubted influenced our communities. I would particularly like to thank our Town Hall team for their response to protests and the officers working on the Op Wildflower response. Working together, the response has been professional and balanced in managing these sensitive issues and ensuring all angles are appropriately considered.

In February, we saw excellent examples of Neighbourhood Crime Teams securing charges across CoM for burglary and robbery with many more (and TICs) to come. This is positively impacting & reducing crime, giving our communities confidence.

CoM Futures continues to move forwards, with well-established plans to move Gorton response and Neighbourhood to Central as opposed basing the staff on CoM North. The boundary changes will be taking effect so that wards align properly with GMP systems and we will be looking to disaggregate the City from Longsight, so we can clearly see crime and performance trends, ensuring we have the right resources in the right place at the right time.

We have an extra 132 officers joining CoM between now and August, with more student officers moving out of training and other moving through to independent patrol. This coupled with clarity around the future District Operating Model is allowing us opportunity to plan how best to serve our communities.

With new staff joining CoM, it is more important than ever we promote high standards and set them off on their journey as we mean for them to continue. There will be an increase on quality, standards and behaviour and expectations will grow as we move forward through this next year.

I look forward to your support in making CoM a beacon of excellence and playing a significant part in GMP’s journey to becoming the best force in the UK.

Thank you

Chief Superintendent Rick Jackson

Fraud prevention advice during Chinese New Year

Officers and staff from the Economic Crime Unit gave out prevention advice in Chinatown during Chinese New Year celebrations.

On Saturday 10 February 2024, officers from the Economic Crime Unit, alongside volunteers in the unit and also officers from across the force spoke to over 400 people throughout the day about fraud prevention ranging from general fraud advice, money mules and money laundering to ensure that our communities are well equipped to protect themselves against fraud and economic crimes.

The police officers at the prevention stall in Chinatown in the city centre spoke Mandarin to communicate crime prevention advice to the Chinese community and offer advice for fraud victims in both English and Mandarin.

Detective Sergeant Stacey Shannon, of GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “It was great to see so many people approach our officers and staff at the crime prevention stall yesterday, which gave us the chance to reach over 400 people.

“It is what we are working towards and something we are passionate about, the

more people we can reach, the more people can be equipped with crime prevention advice.

“Events like this will prevent people from becoming a victim, and also will provide guidance and contact details on how to report a fraud once it has happened.

“Our work to spread crime prevention in relation to fraud continues, last year we held 145 crime prevention events across Greater Manchester, there are so many different types of fraud out there to protect people from and our work to reach as many people in the community as possible continues to ensure that we equip the public with as much crime prevention advice as possible throughout into the new year.”

GMP recruitment spot hits national TV

A video advertisement recruiting for GMP’s Special constabulary is now showing on Sky.

The 30-second spot, which launched on 19 February, was created by Geoff Lingard of the Creative and Media Imaging (CMI) team, drawing on material from a wider ongoing recruitment campaign. It is expected to reach nearly 150,000 viewers.

The advert was suggested by Ch Supt Chris Hill as part of a broader campaign to boost GMP’s Special officer numbers. One concern was that, as the Special constabulary has historically been seen as a route into more traditional policing, a relatively high proportion of applicants would approach joining the Specials as a temporary ‘stepping stone’.

The team behind the campaign decided to address this by aiming its messaging in particular towards a more diverse audience, including older people who are already well established in their current career and want to give back to the community.

With the help of Ch Supt Hill and SCI Phil Hayes, Sedgley Park’s lead training coordinator for special officers, Geoff and the CMI team engaged with Specials to get footage of them at work.

Special officers were filmed in Ashton, Bolton and Bury performing a wide range of tasks, including using a speed camera, patrolling local neighbourhoods, setting up a crime scene and engaging with the night-time economy initiative Operation Custodian.

“We witnessed first-hand the expectations placed on Specials, including the need to deal with conflict,” Geoff explained. “We wanted to make sure we got different and varied footage of the diverse work Specials do, and we’re very grateful to the officers who volunteered to take part.”

Combining this new material with existing video footage, the team produced a minute-long video which was used throughout 2023 in various campaigns, events and the Specials recruitment roadshow.

Following the success of their video, the team was asked to condense the content into around 30 seconds for an external advertisement.

A voiceover was provided by Sgt David Lawrenson, who has previously provided voice work for GMP’s video and radio spots.

Geoff commented: “We have to appreciate that people’s time

is precious now and it takes a very special person to volunteer their time in this way, doing a full day’s work and then putting on the uniform to go back out on a job – putting a uniform on as a regular cop is a difficult enough task, and they get paid for it

“There wasn’t always a great deal of respect for the Special constabulary within the police, but that attitude has evolved and they are now very much appreciated as a resource. Special officers are fully trained, issued with full kit, and have the same powers of arrest as conventional officers.”

In December 2023 alone, GMP Specials volunteered over 4,200 hours to policing duties, assisting in the arrests of 195 suspects, carrying out 314 community engagement events, attending 518 emergency 999 calls and stopping 504 vehicles for traffic offences.

The force is still looking to recruit more Special officers.

Anyone who would like to volunteer as a Special can email cip-recruitment@gmp.police.uk

Volunteer vacancies are advertised in the Careers section of GMP’s website, or interested candidates can discover more about the role by visiting the force’s upcoming recruitment events on the following dates:

• Monday 25 March: Royton and Crompton Academy, Oldham

• Monday 29 April: The Co-op Academy, Plant Hill Road, Higher Blackley, City of Manchester

Book your place for Chief Constable’s Roadshow

This year marks GMP’s 50th anniversary, so there is no better time to reflect on where we are as an organisation and where we want to be.

Our goal is to be the best performing police force in the country, and although there is a lot of work that needs to be done to achieve that ambition, we are undoubtedly on the right path.

Our recent police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL) report cemented our position as the most improved force in the country for the second year running, and Chief Constable Stephen Watson would like to thank all officers, staff members, volunteers and apprentices in person for their hard work and dedication that is fuelling GMP’s resurgence and to let them know our plans for the future.

The upcoming Chief Constable’s Roadshow offers the perfect opportunity to do so.

All members of the force are urged to attend one of the events taking place between the Tuesdays of 30 April and 2 June 2024 to celebrate GMP’s achievements over the past year and to discuss our blueprint for further progress over the next 12 months and beyond.

Staying on track to be the UK’s best force

CC Watson said: “The rate of improvement seen at GMP since the force was put into special measures in December 2020 is unparalleled in the history of UK policing.

“The goal now is to continue the momentum.

“The annual roadshow provides a platform for officers, staff members, volunteers and apprentices to come together, take stock of where have been and the improvements we have made and identify the remaining challenges that lie ahead and how we will navigate our way through them.

“It also provides the opportunity for you to feed back to the Chief Officer Team directly.”

Eight roadshow sessions to choose from

We have arranged eight sessions across four dates and three venues to provide the opportunity for all members of the force to attend.

The options are:

• Tuesday 30 April: AJ Bell Stadium, Salford

• Friday 3 May: Midland Hotel, Manchester

• Thursday 9 May: Midland Hotel, Manchester

• Tuesday 14 May: Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton

Morning (10am to 12 noon) and afternoon (1:30pm to 3:30pm) sessions will be held on all four event days. Please note that the morning slot on Friday 3 May is now full.

To book your place, visit https://forms.office.com/e/gtLv3hfddy and fill in the simple form, detailing your name, collar number, the branch/district you work for and your chosen session by the deadline of Monday 22 April.

Pre-event feedback to inform roadshow agenda

In the lead up to the roadshow, we want to hear how you have contributed to GMP’s continued evolution over the past year. We want to know:

• What are you most proud of achieving this year and why?

• What do you think we still need to do?

Please answer the questions in full via https://forms.office. com/e/5P014u6YYB.

CC Watson said: “The quick survey will inform the roadshow agenda and enable us to address any issues that you raise. I look forward to seeing you all during the roadshow.”

Operation Protector pins raise over £800 for charity

Pins sold to commemorate GMP’s 2023 Operation Protector, policing the Conservative party conference at Manchester Central, have raised £823.63 for The Christie Charity. Investigative assistant Michael Almond, who served as a logistics officer during Op Protector and oversaw the development and distribution of the commemorative pins, commented: “The

policing operation was a great success from start to finish. After months of planning it was fantastic to see GMP and partners come together to deliver the most successful OP Protector yet.

“I would also like to thank my colleagues across the force who acted as SPOCS to ensure that everyone who wanted to would be able to purchase a pin badge. I was blown away by everyone’s generosity – sadly a lot of people will know someone who has been affected by cancer, so it’s fantastic that The Christie Charity will benefit from the sale of the pin badges.

“I managed to present a pin badge to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who took the time to talk to me and my colleagues about the charity and thank us for our work over the past few months.”

Op Protector ran from Sunday 1 October to Wednesday 4 October 2023, the full length of the conference, during

which more than 10,000 delegates and visitors descended on the city.

The multi-agency security operation, one of the largest of its kind in the UK, allowed the event to go ahead without incident.

Operation Protector takes place every other year, as the Conservative conference alternates between Manchester and Birmingham. The pins are sold for each iteration of the operation, with the proceeds donated to The Christie.

Engagement and Improvement Panel

Last month saw the launch of our forcewide Engagement and Improvement Panel, made up of representatives from every branch and district who will ensure your needs, concerns and issues are streamlined and met.

The primary function of this panel is to convene quarterly and engage in discussion on the overarching themes initially identified in the GMP Staff Survey.

The first wave of engagement saw us focus on individual elements of the Staff Survey results.

Each branch and district highlighted different areas of concern, and therefore a set of tailored questions were created based on where each district and branch scored the highest.

These questions were created to enable your panel representative and the Staff Engagement Team to gain a further in-depth understanding of why your district or branch flagged specific areas as a key concern.

What next?

With the feedback form now closed, the next stage will involve your dedicated SPOCs offering a drop-in session or focus group. These are completely

optional to attend and are just an additional way to enable you to share your feedback. The results of the drop-in or focus group will be fed back anonymously to the Staff Engagement team. Please speak to your SPOC to find out when your session will be taking place.

While these sessions are taking place, the Staff Engagement team will have gathered all your responses, separated them into ‘quick wins’ and longer-term issues, and shared them with your SLT. Throughout this process the responses remain anonymous, with any potential identifiable elements removed from the summary.

What’s the difference between quick wins and longer-term issues?

Quick wins refer to the everyday gripes and concerns that can be swiftly addressed to enhance the overall work experience, whilst the longer-term issues are being assessed for future planning and long-term solutions. Most feedback can be characterised under one of these themes.

What now?

With all the feedback now gathered and shared with your SLT, the Staff

Engagement Team will be informing you over the next couple of weeks of upcoming changes, actions taken and any further explanations following your input. Please look out for an email from staffengagement@gmp.police.uk.

The next wave of questions will launch later on in the year; these will draw on the second issue raised by your district or branch and will once again feature tailored questions based on how your team scored in the 2023 GMP Staff Survey.

Scan the QR to complete the feedback form.

Branch and District Awards 2024

Entries are now open for GMP’s 2024 branch and district awards.

Every year each of the districts and branches which make up GMP hold their own recognition events, with the winners put forward for the Chief Constable’s annual awards.

The awards, which are open to all members of the GMP family, provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate outstanding effort and achievements on the part of officers, staff members, volunteers and apprentices.

This year’s award categories are:

• Police officer of the year: someone we can hold up as an example of the best that Manchester policing has to offer

• Special officer of the year: someone who goes above and beyond what is expected of them to serve the force and their community

• Student officer of the year: the future of the force

• Police staff member of the year: someone who consistently produces excellent work, helps others and contributes to the smooth running of the force

• Apprentice of the year: an asset to their team – someone who is industrious, professional and willing to learn

• Volunteer of the year: someone whose unpaid work benefits the force, the wider community or both

• PCSO of the year: someone passionate and dedicated, who

puts their knowledge of their neighbourhoods or communities to use in their day-to-day policing

• Team of the year: the team can be any size and could comprise staff, officers or a combination of the two – what’s important is their innovative and collaborative approach

• Problem-solving: entries should have identified a significant issue affecting some aspect of GMP and devised a novel means of addressing it

• Innovation: applying new or unconventional approaches and making maximum use of the resources and technology available

• Reactive criminal investigation of the year: launched following a report that a crime has taken place

• Proactive criminal investigation of the year: intelligence-led and often wide-ranging

• Unsung hero: the behind-the-scenes stars of GMP who make our lives better in a multitude of small ways

• Bravery: celebrating outstanding bravery, from performing lifesaving first aid to putting themselves at risk to protect others

If you’d like to nominate a colleague or team for an award, you can complete the form at https://forms.office.com/e/ GpXxxKRFUM or visit the 2024 Awards hub on the GMP intranet.

Firearms Training Unit terrorist incident exercises

Training exercises at airport and Bolton University

2023 saw GMP’s Firearms Training Unit (FTU) successfully conduct a series of large-scale training exercises assessing the response to a marauding terrorist attack (MTA).

Over the summer, GMP collaborated with Bolton University and the tri-services training departments from the police, fire and ambulance services on an exercise evaluating responses to a potential MTA-type attack, taking into account Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) guidance regarding attack methodologies.

The event, developed with PS David Robinson and PC Waterworth and directed by Firearms Training Manager Ch Insp Liam Wareing, was designed and executed by a specialised team led by PS Nick Joynt. The scenario transitioned from a simple disturbance to a complex situation, declaring a major incident and escalating to ‘Op Plato’ for a full firearms response.

The primary goal was to test and develop elements ensuring GMP’s optimal response and addressing recommendations from the public inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. These exercises aimed to foster learning across services and enhance joint capabilities.

The Op Plato Tasking and Development Group, chaired by Supt JP Ruffle alongside senior tri-services representatives, is actively addressing the highlighted learning points supported by Insp Warren Noblett and PS Christian Carr from the Firearms Command Training team.

The training highlighted the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP), which emphasise the need for clear, robust communication and effective coordination between organisations, to ensure a synchronised response. Close collaboration with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) was integral.

Around 80 students served as role actors for each event alongside police volunteers, cadets and Specials; the university’s Special Effects department simulated realistic injuries.

The event was observed by university lecturers and Northwest Ambulance Service (NWAS) instructors, who watched the Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) officers’ use of enhanced first aid skills to provide trauma care while dealing with suspects.

Michelle Powell, the university’s Head of School for Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, commented: “This has been such a valuable exercise for all involved.”

Over 900 participants, including observers, role actors, first and specialist responders, commanders and training staff, engaged in the exercises, establishing a solid foundation for ongoing development. Plans are underway for the next round

of exercises later this year.

Shaun Walton of GMFRS said: “Congratulations on such a well-planned and delivered exercise. I have had excellent feedback from some of our senior officers saying from a multiagency perspective it was the best MTA exercise they have attended, in terms of responder challenges, dynamics and tasks that responders constantly had to manage.”

DCC Terry Woods described the event as “A well planned exercise – the best I’ve seen delivered by a firearms training team.”

Later in 2023, the FTU staged five large-scale exercises at Manchester Airport to test the ARV response to an MTA involving the use of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CRBN) agent. The scenario was designed by a delivery team led by Sgt Chris Bullock and PC Steve Bennett.

A senior leader at Manchester Airport Group (MAG) said: “The night-time exercises provided the opportunity for armed officers from across GMP to work with unarmed colleagues based at the airport, to respond to an MTA.

“I was very impressed with the officers’ professionalism; it was good to see the armed officers in action.”

One key requirement of the exercise was to test the officers on providing trauma care. GMP’s lead first aid and trauma training provider, ATACC Group, supplied instructors each week to best replicate the varying levels of injuries likely seen during such an event.

The ATACC team supplied makeup and prosthetic injuries for role actors, including Bolton University students, Special Constables and members of MAG. Some exercises used more than 100 role actors, managed by the Airport Events Planning Unit.

The scenario began with a reported road traffic collision, later identified as a vehicle attack. It continued with four active shooters moving through Terminal 1 and culminated with a CBRN attack. ARV officers from Manchester Airport provided the initial response, with further support arriving from the Tactical Firearms Unit.

ATACC instructors and subject matter experts from the CBRN training unit gave feedback on the teams’ responses.

Ch Insp Gayle Brister commented: “The MTA exercise has been the first important step in the development of our testing of a planned response at the airport. Early 2024 will see further arranged training for armed and unarmed responders to test the tactical command functions of the ground response plan, testing the operational firearms commanders’ actions to secure a containment of an aircraft and wider objectives.”

Both exercise events provided all officers taking part with valuable learning and the opportunity to consolidate existingskills.

Unit in large-scale exercises

University test MTA response

The Tactical Firearms unit will be recruiting later this year – if you are interested in becoming a firearms officer or would like to know more about what the role entails, please contact Deputy Firearms Training Manager Sgt Gary Homa (Gary.Homa@gmp.police. uk). The department values and is committed to promoting a diverse workforce and encourages applications from officers from underrepresented groups.

GMP hits 50

This year we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Greater Manchester Police, which officially came into being as a force on 1 April 1974.

Over the course of our anniversary year, we will be looking back on the last 50 years and preparing for the next 50 with an array of articles, events, photos and videos celebrating the origins, evolution and potential of GMP.

How has GMP changed since you joined the force? How do you think policing will change in the next few decades? Do you have any interesting, funny, weird or touching memories of working with GMP you’d like to share?

You can contribute your own memories of GMP directly to staff. engagement@gmp.police.uk.

Ethical Policing Principles

The Code of Ethics sits at the heart of everything we do. It sets out how we work together in policing and with the public to keep people safe.

Ethical policing principles are a series of guiding statements that should be used to help people in policing do the right things, in the right way, for the right reasons.

A podium finish for GMP’s equestrian team

GMP’s equestrian team finished in third place at its most recent outing at Croft Top Equestrian Centre in Haslingden.

The dressage team, which consisted of four riders, competed against six other teams, riding in front of two judges who assessed both their riding ability and the capability of their horses. The team had to complete two dressage tests during the day.

Ch Supt Estelle Mathieson, who chairs the equestrian team, said: “We started the equestrian team a couple of years ago when we realised other forces were out there competing and representing their own force.

“There is a large equestrian community within GMP, and we wanted to bring everyone together so we could pull a team together. In the last couple of months, we have managed to successfully turn out both a show jumping and dressage team.

“This podium finish is a real high point for us and has encouraged more members to join. The team spirit is clear to see – it’s so much more fun competing as a team compared to being an individual.”

Our four riders achieved some brilliant scores and their combined totals saw them placed in third position. This is the first time a team from GMP has gained a podium finish at an equestrian event.

For those who are not familiar with dressage, scores are recorded as percentages: the higher the score, the better, and the team with the highest overall score wins.

GMP’s team scores were as follows:

Test 1

Cara Bancroft on Indiana Boy – 66.72%

Jade Stott on Smooth Apache Warrior – 68.96%

Rebecca Atkinson on Moonlight Vision – 73.79%

Katie Gilroy on Fortane Village Snow – 66.20%

Total – 275.67%

Test 2

Cara Bancroft on Indiana Boy – 60.96%

Jade Stott on Smooth Apache Warrior – 68.07%

Rebecca Atkinson on Moonlight Vision – 70.38%

Katie Gilroy on Fortane Village Snow – 62.69%

Total – 262.10%

PC Cara Bancroft was part of the team and explains how she felt to be there: “It was awesome representing GMP Equestrian team and even better that we managed to achieve a podium placing. I got my first ever sash!”

The future is looking bright for the force’s equestrian team and the committee has high hopes for 2024. “We have a British dressage team representing us for the rest of the season and we are hoping to make some big finals,” explains Insp Bree Lanyon.

“We’re also exploring the possibility of competing at the UK Armed Forces Equestrian Association, which is a national competition taking place in October. There are lots of other events planned throughout the year, and both riders and nonriders are welcome. We can always use a spare pair of hands, so if you fancy a day out to watch the team, then let us know.”

Neurodiversity Celebration Week – 18th to 24th March 2024

What is Neurodiversity Celebration Week?

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative which challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences.

GMP is hosting its own local online event via Teams on Tuesday 19 March 2024 from 10am, which will include:

• Guest speakers

• Information on policies, procedures and reasonable adjustments

• Lived experiences

• Awareness

Updates on the event will be published on the Latest News section of the intranet – please look out for this!

If you are struggling, there is always someone to talk to:

• Peer support in GMP – contact the wellbeing volunteer coordinators to be put in contact with an individual who has lived experience of the situation you are currently going through.

• Health Assured – you can call their free, confidential helpline 24/7/365 on 0800 028 0199

• Samaritans – a listening ear is always available on 123 116

Engaging with you to improve district life

The force has recently introduced an Engagement and Improvement Panel, to help ensure staff needs, concerns, and issues are streamlined and met across all the districts and branches.

One of our CoM district SPOCs is Inspector Mark Cheston. He will be representing CoM Central on the panel alongside DS Florence Lowe when it meets every few months to discuss key themes from the recent staff survey, with the goal of boosting employee wellbeing and to drive continuous improvement.

By way of introduction, we’ve been getting to know Insp Cheston a little better – from exploring new cultures to enjoying family outings – so without further ado, let’s meet our CoM Central E&I Panel SPOC:

Why you did you put yourself forward to be on the panel?

In every role I have always done my best to improve culture, wellbeing and streamline processes allowing officers to do what they joined the police to do - be proactive. I am passionate about creating the best possible environment for colleagues to work in, working to their full potential, and where they enjoy coming to work. Challenges that face policing are unique and everchanging. We are

exposed to a high pressure environment as well as traumatic incidents and I feel it is only right that we do what we can as individuals to support each other, so to inform district wide change is something that I wanted to be involved with. What kind of positive change are you hoping to bring to the district?

I am hoping to inform change, and work towards a workplace where colleagues feel valued and empowered to do their job well. Where good performance is recognised with as much emphasis as we place on poor performance. I am also hoping that the district can help inform how we can improve our focus on wellbeing.

What’s the first improvement you’d like to make?

I would like to implement a better rewards and recognition process where officers can be recognised in a timely manner for their performance. I would like officers to be honest about areas that they see as needing improvement so the panel can make tangible changes that would help their daily work.

What’s one interesting fact colleagues on district may not know about you?

I love to travel and try new cultures, whether that’s going on a city break or

trying new cuisines in difference parts of the world.

How do you like to relax outside of work?

Family is very important to me, so I spend most of my time with family, going for days out or finding a new restaurant to try with my partner. I have a 5-monthold son who takes up most of my time. Apart from that, I love hiking, playing golf, spending time with friends and training in the gym.

Insp Mark Cheston will be representing CoM Central alongside DS Florence Lowe.

CoM North’s SPOCs are DCI Diane Johnson and DI Michelle Buchanan. CoM City Centre’s SPOC is PC Daniel McKenzie. CoM South’s SPOCs are PC Monty Marshall, PC James Simm, Inspector Amy Tierney and T/Supt Nicola Williams.

They will be raising your concerns when the panel meets every few months, which will include issues raised in the staff survey and the E&I Panel feedback form.

More details on how to raise matters with your SPOCs will be provided by the Staff Engagement team in due course.

Right Care, Right Person - coming soon

Towards summer 2024, GMP will be adopting Right Care, Right Person (RCRP): a nationwide initiative which helps to identify when concern for welfare (G15) calls require a police response and when a different agency would be better placed to assist.

Training and support resources will be made available to everyone who needs them before the programme goes live.

Please be aware that Right Care, Right Person has not yet gone live and RCRP principles must not be adopted before the official launch. Please make sure that you pass on this message to your colleagues, peers and team.

Police officers currently spend a significant amount of time dealing with incidents or issues which fall outside of their remit, and this has an impact on our resources. Under Right Care,

Right Person, when a concern for welfare is reported, GMP will identify the nature of the concern and where suitable, signpost the caller to the most appropriate agency to meet their needs.

Right Care, Right Person will not

affect our existing duties under the law. It will not stop the police attending incidents where there is a real and immediate risk to life or of serious harm, a significant risk to a child, or where a crime or potential crime is involved.

Robberies and violent crime fall in Village

Officers operating under Operation Sycamore continue to crack down on criminality in the district.

As a result, robberies and violent crime have been noticeably reduced in the Village area of Manchester city centre; with figures showing the outcome of the proactive activities carried out by the team.

In the third quarter of 2022, 35 robberies were recorded as occurring in the Village area – which nearly halved to 18 in the third quarter of 2023. The last recorded month of data (December 2023) shows five recorded robberies.

Operation Sycamore, set up in collaboration with the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), targets known crime hotspots across the city, including in Village and Canal Street, the commercial district, and other surrounding areas, in a meticulous bid to tackle serious crime.

Each of the identified hotspots is regularly visited during patrols each day, with a targeted focus during

busier nights. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays show an increase in crimes due to the increased footfall of people on nights out; therefore, officers deploy more frequently during these peak times.

Local officers work closely with businesses and will discuss issues with management and security when a complaint arises. This includes the use of the Night Net radio, which provides a two-way communication facility with bars and clubs.

Inspector Glen Rees said: “The reduction of robberies and other violent crime in the Village is testament to the hard work of officers, who have been out, patrolling, working with businesses and securing arrests and charges for offenders.

“The proactive patrols across hotspot areas of the city have seen certain crimes drop in number and I hope this trend continues throughout 2024. The city centre neighbourhood team will carry on doing what work they can to ensure

that the city’s residents and visitors are safe and protected from those who seek to harm them.”

Tackling issues with Wythenshawe neighbourhood team

Neighbourhood teams play an integral part in supporting our communities - from tackling antisocial behaviour to cracking down on criminality.

The Wythenshawe neighbourhood team are no strangers to this having led a triple warrant strike in Wythenshawe at the beginning of the month.

The operation was launched acting on intelligence and saw the three teams visit Gladeside Road, Brookcroft Road, and Broadley Avenue, making early wake-up calls at around 8am. During the course of the searches, approximately £15,000 was seized under the proceeds of crime act, while one man, aged 35, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

The operation was led by the neighbourhood team who regularly collate and work on intelligence recorded within the community.

Sergeant George Priestley said: “Ultimately, when it comes to

warrants - when we apply for one, have it approved, get the resources, and hammer a door in – it’s with the community’s protection and concerns in mind.

“This work enables us to significantly disrupt suspected criminality while reminding those who conduct illegal behaviour in our area that we are around.”

In addition to conducting warrants, the team regularly proactively patrols known hotspots, works with specialist teams when necessary, and engage with the community to help ensure officers are providing the best possible service.

Officers also visited areas in and around the Civic Centre where they liased with centre security and spoke to members of the public on ways they can report anti-social behaviour.

The GMP Corporate Communications branch will continue to support neighbourhoods with promoting stories amongst their communities - to the

media, across our social networks and our community messaging platform Bee in the Loop.

If you need any support or have patrols/ warrants coming up that you’d like to share with communities then please don’t hesistate to get in touch.