Over 750 arrests as Greater Manchester Police crackdown on anti-social behaviour

Elliot Hartley
6 days ago
1 min read

More than 750 people have been arrested under Greater Manchester Police's 'Winter of Action' campaign, with around a third of arrests coming from anti-social behaviour offences.

The initiative has seen around 140 arrests for retail crime offences - a 10% reduction from the same December period last year - with 100 for serious violent crime.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle said there had been a "targeted, precise focus on crimes that communities and businesses want to see robustly dealt with", ranging from anti-social behaviour "blighting the lives of law-abiding residents" to a decrease in retail crime.

The national campaign led by the Home Office aims to engage with cooperate with local council teams, charities, and local authority workers to fight crime including anti-social behaviour, retail crime, and violence against women and girls.

The campaign has seen thousands of visible policing hours across Greater Manchester – through a combination of rigorous hotspot patrolling, community stalls, drop-in sessions, and targeted work.

GMP cite the challenges the winter months present, including poor weather conditions, school holidays, an uplift in high-street footfall and an increase in parties.

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Safer Stronger Communities, said: “The Winter of Action has delivered a clear focus on the crimes that matter most to residents while providing a strong, visible police presence at a time of year when people need reassurance."

GMP say that while the intensification is across the Winter period, it is by no means a one-off: every week, officers are tackling crime that the public want us to.