Officers in Manchester city centre spread festive crime prevention over the weekend

Officers, with the support of GMP’s Police Cadets, have been out and about in the city centre on Saturday 16 November handing our crime prevention advice leaflets and speaking to members of the public.  

The officers attended a briefing by the local Police Inspector at the station before parading on into the city centre to give out advice to those who are enjoying the Manchester Markets and doing their Christmas shopping on how they can keep themselves safe.

Inspector Kam Hare of GMP’s City Centre district, said: “The City Centre Neighbourhood Policing team have increased visible patrols throughout the city during this Christmas period to keep people safe and to target people who are coming into our city to commit theft from person and robbery offences.

“Our focus is on crime prevention and ways in which we can keep the public safe, we have dedicated patrols during this busy time which is designed to provide reassurance to members of the public and businesses, whilst also providing us with an opportunity for increased community engagement whilst we are out and about.

“In the coming week, we will see the community in the city centre grow with the festive demand which will also attract those who also come to the centre to commit crime.

“We were joined by our police cadets on Saturday, the busiest shopping weekend of the year just before Christmas.

“It is so important that we continue to give out prevention advice in the city centre especially around this time of year when are city centre experiences more footfall.

“The officers and volunteers handed out leaflets on theft from person and also vehicle thefts and spoke to local people and also those enjoying the city centre to provide advice around crime at the Christmas Markets to help deter offenders by advising people to keep their mobile phones safe and out of view.

“Opportunistic thieves are looking for people who are not paying attention to their surroundings with their valuables on show.

“If you are out and about, be wary, look around you and be present. Please keep your phone hidden away and zipped in a bag or place belongings under your table when in a busy restaurant or bar or even in your pocket, making it harder for criminals reach.

"Simple things like this can make a difference in reducing your chances of becoming a victim.

“These type of thefts happen so quickly with some instances taking less than a minute for the offender to approach the victim and steal the phone away.

"There will be an increase of highly visible patrols in the city centre, if you have any concerns about crime come and speak to officers or alternatively report through 101 or via LiveChat on gmp.police.uk.

"Always call 999 in an emergency."