Thousands of weapons have been seized and taken off the streets in Greater Manchester by police over the last year.
As part of Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) wider crackdown on knife crime and “serious violence”, it’s been revealed that a total of 3,265 weapons were seized by officers, and there were 168 fewer recorded knife crime offences in the 12 months to January 2023.
This is a reduction of 3.8%, when compared to the previous year.
On top of this, additional investment has also led to the creation of a dedicated team within GMP called ‘Operation Venture’ – which was launched to in December 2022, with the aim of reducing violent crime in neighbourhoods across the region.
Operation Venture has made 84 arrests, taken 33 weapons off the streets of Greater Manchester, and conducted 106 positive stop-searches that “resulted in the detection of an offence” in just the last four months alone.
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#NEWS | 3,265 weapons taken off the streets of Greater Manchester since April 2022 as GMP continues to come down hard on knife crime
3,400 weapons were surrendered via Amnesty bins in 3 months, each representing 1 more knife off the streets
GMP officers from have also carried out 32 targeted visits to known offenders, who they said may have “posed a risk to themselves and others”.
“Unfortunately, serious violence and knife crime is a problem we are seeing across the country and particularly in metropolitan areas – and it is not unique to Manchester,” explained Superintendent Caroline Hemingway, GMP’s lead for knife crime.
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“GMP is committed to doing everything in our power to reduce these incidences of knife crime and ensure our communities feel safe.
“Every life lost is a tragedy and behind each and every one of our figures is a family and a community deeply hurt by knife crime. I am pleased that progress is being made but there is still a long way to go to further prevent and reduce this type of crime.
“We owe it to our communities to make them feel safer and this is why Operation Venture has been launched alongside other proactive policing operations.”
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Police seize more than 3,200 weapons in Greater Manchester to help tackle ‘serious violence’ / Credit: GMP
Over the last three months, GMP also says communities across Greater Manchester have been coming together to rally against the rise in knife crime, and there have been 3,400 weapons surrendered via dedicated Amnesty Bins.
GMP continued to urge that it “cannot win this fight alone”.
“Whilst enforcement is a vital tactic in the fight against knife crime, communities need to come together and continue sharing their concerns and any intelligence so officers can act on it,” Superintendent Hemingway added.
Featured Image – GMP
News
Police appeal after teenage girl reports being sexually assaulted in a Stretford park
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal for information has been issued after a teenage girl reported being sexually assaulted in a park in Stretford.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers attended Victoria Park, in the Stretford area, earlier this week on Tuesday night (21 July) following reports that a teenage girl had been sexually assaulted.
The incident is reported to have happened between 5:30pm and 5:44pm, and the offender is described to be an older white male of a large build who was wearing a black t-shirt.
No arrests have been made at this time, GMP confirmed, and enquiries are ongoing.
As police continue their investigation at pace, a public appeal for information has been issued in the hopes that someone can come forward and provide the details needed to track down the offender.
“Detectives are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry and the victim is being fully supported by specially trained officers,” explained Detective Superintendent Suzanne Keenaghan, from GMP’s Trafford district.
“There will be an increased police presence in and around Victoria Park while officers continue their investigation and provide reassurance to the local community.”
Police say they are ‘particularly keen’ to hear from anyone who was in the park at the time, or who may have CCTV, doorbell, mobile phone or dashcam footage from the area.
Anyone with information can speak to police officers at the scene, call 101, or contact GMP via LiveChat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 3029 of 21/07/26.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues to be slashed by 20% next year
Emily Sergeant
Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England are set to be slashed by 20% next year.
Continuing on with his week of, seemingly, introducing a new measure a day amid the cost of living crisis, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has now announced that he has taken action to cut business rates for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues across England from April next year.
It’s expected that these new business rate cuts will benefit nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues, saving the typical pub an estimated £1,100 in the next financial year.
“For too long, the pubs, social clubs, and live music venues that form the backbone of local high streets have been replaced by boarded up windows and for sale signs,” the Government said in a statement as the cuts were announced today.
Andy Burnham is slashing business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues by 20% next year / Credit: John Arano (via Unsplash) | Wikimedia Commons
These changes are set to be fully funded by the Government – including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops for example.
The Government says it also plans to crack down on businesses that sell through online marketplaces but do not comply with their tax obligations, which therefore puts them at an unfair advantage over businesses that do play by the rules.
I’m giving thousands of pubs, clubs and music venues a 20% cut in business rates.
I won’t stand by while these cherished local spaces disappear, replaced by boarded-up windows and ‘For Sale’ signs.
They’re the heart of our communities and it’s time we backed them.
“Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of communities across the UK,” explained Chancellor John Healey. “They help make a place what we love. They bring people together, support local jobs and help keep high streets, and town centres busy, which is why we will back them all the way.
“We are determined to bring hope back, give businesses the support they need and generate growth in every postcode.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham added: “For too long, Governments have stood by while cherished venues have disappeared from our local high streets. So today I am changing that.
“This Government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities. I said I would protect pubs and local high streets, and that’s what we will do. What we’re announcing today is just the start as we work to bring back hope across the country.”
Emily Sergeant -
13th March 2023 
