Meet PC Claire Jones - a member of GMP's Operation Venture team

"I’m originally from Tameside and I still live in Greater Manchester. When I left school I became a hairdresser, but I quickly realised it wasn’t the right job for me. I wanted a job where I could get out and about more and feel as though I was helping people.

"I joined Greater Manchester Police as a staff officer initially in the Corporate Communications department. I worked there for 3 years and then joined as an officer in 2018. I worked on response, responding to emergencies for 3 years before spending time on the Neighbourhood team in Trafford, getting to know the communities more closely and seeing in more depth how violent crime affected communities, families and schools.

"I see Operation Venture as a chance to work in this area further. I’ve grown up seeing some of the people I know turn to violent crime – some of the people I went to school with are now in prison for serious violent offences.

"It’s incredibly sad seeing younger children losing their lives and losing their way - I want to do what I can to help. I don’t think those carrying knives realise the consequences of it. I’ve been around some of the schools as a neighbourhood officer to speak with students and many don’t seem to realise that by carrying a knife, you put yourself in more danger than by not having one at all and could become a victim yourself.

"One of the main drivers for me in joining Operation Venture is to protect children. I’m very close to my partners child and if she became a victim of a knifepoint robbery, or was hurt in anyway by knife-crime, I’d worry for how she would cope with the lasting trauma I have seen others suffer, and how we would as a family, it would be very difficult and traumatising. I can’t imagine the pain that some families are going through and if I can spare even one family that, I know I will have done a good thing."