Operation AVRO returns to Stockport and smashes last year’s results to help continue to fight crime in the area

Greater Manchester Police's latest Operation AVRO focused on returning to take the fight back to the criminals and despite the poor weather it didn’t dampen spirits or enthusiasm with some key results secured, including a 60% increase in the number of arrests.

The operation, which brings together resources from all 10 GMP districts, saw an increased police visibility across the Stockport district on Thursday 17 November 2022.

After a briefing at Stockport County’s Edgeley Park early in the morning a series of warrants followed, building on the success of the last operation in January.

Alongside fantastic proactive community and partner engagement a total of 28 arrests were carried out with 18 search warrants executed. 44 traffic offence reports were issued with 14 vehicles seized as a result.

Examples of work carried out by officers included patrols in the town centre, with warrants and weapon sweeps in Offerton. Offences included possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and armed robbery with a quantity of cash being seized. The district was also supported with dedicated resources and by the specialist operation unit which included the Tactical Mounted Unit as a large-scale visible presence.

Chief Superintendent John Webster of GMP’s Stockport district, said: “In January this year we ran Operation AVRO and it returned again yesterday as part of GMP’s intensification of police activity across our community, where we execute a number of warrants and we’re out reassuring our public in relation to bringing offenders to justice and doing our very, very best to eliminate and quell antisocial behaviour.

“As a result of the huge success of AVRO in January, we have decided to run the operation again and as you can see have had some excellent results.

“This goes a long way to help making our local area safer as we’ve managed to ensure our arrests were in relation to really serious crimes. We’ve been out in the community front and centre showing everyone what we are here to do and achieve, which is to prevent and protect people from crime and disorder as well as bringing people to justice. As always, our work continues, and we will be working hard to make sure our local community remains safe and secure all year round.”

What is Operation AVRO?

Operation AVRO is a force wide initiative that delivers extra resources and specialist officers to a different district within Greater Manchester each month and launched just over a year ago in Salford in October 2021.

Since then, it has travelled around the force with the operation targeting crimes and concerns that members of the public in that district have told GMP give them the most concern.

For more information, visit: Operation AVRO | Greater Manchester Police (gmp.police.uk)