GMP continue action to clamp down on gun crime as firearms discharges decrease by 64% over three years from April 2020

Since April 2020, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has seen a year-on-year decrease in the number of confirmed firearms discharges. Between April 2022 and March 2023, GMP recorded 25 confirmed firearms discharges, which is a reduction of around 64% when compared to the 70 recorded between April 2020 and March 2021.

Coming down hard on the issue of firearms and serious violent crime remains a force priority and in line with this the number of confirmed firearms discharges is at its lowest point since 2013.

Over the last decade, GMP has also significantly improved the way in which it records crime. Statistics show that from April 2013, the number of confirmed firearms discharges increased to a peak in March 2020. During this time the force had amended its accounting technique to record crime with greater accuracy and efficiency, meaning that more crimes were recorded.

The decrease in discharges from March 2020 is therefore significant. It demonstrates that whilst the force continues to detect and record more crimes, the activity GMP is carrying out to prevent gun crime is delivering real results.

This year, GMP has also taken over 70 firearms off the streets of Greater Manchester between April 2022 and March 2023.

The seizures are a combination of proactive policing operations and raids carried out by officers, focused on tackling the use of illegal firearms and going after the criminals who supply, them whilst acting upon community intelligence. GMP’s Programme Challenger continues to prioritise the criminal use of firearms and the force is committed to disrupting any organised crime groups (OCG) who utilise firearms to further criminal activity.

GMP also works alongside the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) to disrupt the conversion and supply of legal blank-firing firearms into illegal weapons. This is a key tactic in disarming OCG’s operating in Greater Manchester.

There is a clear message that those individuals using firearms will also be targeted and subject to intense police focus and disruptive activity and with this in mind GMP has created a number of proactive policing operations to target gun crime.

GMP’s response includes Operation Eider which was set up in May 2022 to carry out a search of Kersal Moor. Information was received by GMP which led to a joint search operation between police and the Military and the recovery of a deadly stash of weapons including firearms and grenades.

Operation Approach was GMP’s response to an increase in firearms discharges between 2019 and 2020. This operation was supported by officers based in North Manchester and Salford and led to the arrest of several key members of a north Manchester OCG. In March 2021, officers arrested a further 14 people, recovered two firearms, ammunition and over 8kg of Class A and B drugs. Additionally, two stolen vehicles were seized along with more than £150,000 of criminal cash. Since these arrests in 2021, firearm discharges in the community have reduced by more than 80%.

Detective Superintendent John Griffith, GMP’s force lead for Serious Organised Crime, said: “GMP has made significant progress around the management of firearms thanks to a concerted effort by all involved in detecting and removing offensive weapons from the streets of Greater Manchester and arresting those involved in the supply and distribution.

“This action is showing real results which can be seen in the significant reduction in firearms offences over the past three years.

“That said, there is still a long way to go. Gun crime is devastating to victims and their families, and it has a huge impact on communities. Most firearms incidents are targeted and do not pose a threat to the wider public, but they cause a great deal of fear and anxiety and GMP has a duty to ensure our communities feel safe.

“Our focus therefore remains on intensifying action to see more guns taken off the streets and holding to account those who are involved in the use, supply and conversion of firearms in Greater Manchester.”

Anyone with concerns or information about suspicious activity should report it to police online, if able, at www.gmp.police.uk or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.