Winter crime crackdown launched across Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester Police ramp up operations to combat seasonal crime during the Winter of Action campaign
Greater Manchester Police is stepping up efforts to tackle crime this winter as the force supports the Home Office’s Winter of Action campaign.
The initiative is part of GMP’s ongoing Operation North Star and aims to address key concerns such as retail crime, anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, and issues in the night-time economy.
Building on earlier successes
Operation North Star follows in the wake of GMP's Safe4Summer campaign, which ran from June to September this year and resulted in reductions across multiple types of crime.
Figures from Safe4Summer show shoplifting and theft dropped by 20%, street crime was reduced by 11%, and serious violent crime fell by 8%. These gains were achieved by 22,000 patrol hours across 82 crime hotspots, leading to over 2,000 arrests and more than 1,400 positive stop-searches.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle said this operational momentum will carry into winter:
“Through our ongoing Operation North Star, our local policing teams will be supporting the Home Office’s Winter of Action campaign and utilising all of the resources we have at our disposal to provide the best possible service to keep the people of Greater Manchester safe.
“This is robust, partnership-led neighbourhood policing that builds on the Safe4Summer action, which saw crime drop across the board due to the hard work of officers across our ten districts.”
Challenges of winter
GMP acknowledges the unique challenges posed by the winter months, such as increased activity in high streets and night-time venues, alongside the usual seasonal weather and school holidays.
Officers will focus on crime hotspots, ensuring proactive patrols at popular locations like the Manchester Christmas markets, among other areas. GMP says feedback from local residents will help inform their approach over the winter period.
Following the Home Office's funding of an additional 176 officers earlier this year, GMP plans to expand its neighbourhood police force to over 1,000 officers by 2026.
Assistant Chief Constable Boyle added:
“The Winter period is a time for families and friends to come together and enjoy themselves without the risk of having issues from those who look to cause harm and anti-social behaviour.
“It is those people that can expect a knock on the door from us, whether it’s a polite word of advice or a new pair of handcuffs for Christmas, we simply won’t tolerate crime or anti-social behaviour in our communities.”
GMP encourages the public to report any concerns, ensuring the community remains safe throughout the festive season.