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GMP explains why we’ll see more police on Greater Manchester’s streets next month
Patrols are being stepped up over the festive period.
Emily Sergeant -
30th November 2023 
The streets of Greater Manchester are set to see an increased police presence over the coming weeks of this festive season.
With December only a day away now, and ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ nearing closer and closer, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has issued a statement informing residents and visitors that police patrols will be stepped-up over the busy Christmas and new year period as part of the ongoing ‘Project Servator’.
‘Project Servator’ is a national policing tactic that aims to “disrupt a range of criminal activity” and provide a “reassuring presence” for the public in areas of large footfall.
This means that we’ll be seeing an “increased and visible police presence” on the region’s streets for the next few weeks.
This police presence will be made up of additional neighbourhood police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), as well as specialist police officers – including plain clothes, and firearms officers.
Officers can appear anywhere in Greater Manchester as part of the operation – including at Manchester Christmas Markets, in transport hubs, and in entertainment venues and indoor retail spaces, such as the Trafford Centre.
On top of this, ‘Operation Dasher’ – which is GMP’s own operation for policing the Christmas markets – will also be running in the city centre during the festive period.
“Christmas and new year are busy times for any city,” explained Sergeant Lee Keefe, who is GMP’s Project Servator co-ordinator, “but Manchester is particularly busy at this time of year because of the Christmas markets, Christmas shoppers, and more people enjoying a night out.”
Sergeant Keefe said the “unpredictable deployments” of both plain-clothes snd uniformed officers as part of ‘Project Servator’ can happen “at any time of the day and night”.
But GMP reassured this is “nothing to be concerned about”.
“Project Servator’s deployments are highly visible, but there is nothing to be concerned about if you see one in your area,” Sergeant Keefe continued.
“It’s normal police activity and isn’t linked to any specific intelligence about a threat to the area.
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“Officers are experienced and specially trained to spot the tell-tale signs that someone is planning or preparing to commit an act of crime, and will also talk to the public and local businesses to let them know what they’re doing and remind them to be vigilant, trust their instincts and report any suspicious or unusual behaviour.”
Featured Image – GMP
