Over 317 arrests made as Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Venture targets knife crime offenders

A major clampdown on knife crime and serious violence by Greater Manchester Police has seen a further 30 people arrested in September 2023.

Known as Operation Venture, the team of specialist officers deploy to violent crime hotspots and use a combination of uniformed and plain clothes tactics to detect and deter violent offences.

Since its inception in late autumn last year, the team has made over 317 arrests and carried out over 311 positive stop searches where action has been taken and weapons, drugs or other paraphernalia have been seized.

Over 90 weapons have been taken off the streets and out of the hands of criminals and 125 weapons sweeps have been carried out where officers search for hidden or discarded weapons.

The team, which is intelligence led, has made over 660 intelligence submissions. The submissions are used to build the picture around violent crime hotspots across Greater Manchester and determine where officers are deployed across Greater Manchester.

As well as enforcing a zero-tolerance approach to those caught carrying knives, the team also works closely with a range of partners – including the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit - to help target the root cause of violence on our streets.

Over 130 partnership referrals have been made which direct young and first-time offenders into support services to get them the help and support they need to make better choices. The team have also made 124 disruption visits to known offenders to ensure they are complying fully with any bail conditions and deter them from criminality.

The latest figures for Greater Manchester suggest proactive policing and preventative work is delivering real results. In the 12 months to August 2023, GMP recorded 3,732 knife crimes, which is 668 fewer than the previous year - a reduction of 15.2%.

Wider serious violence offences, which includes robbery and violence with injury, was down to 35,397 incidents, a 4% from the previous 12 months of 37,092.

Sergeant Paul Heap of Operation Venture said: “Operation Venture is committed to pursuing those involved in serious violence and associated criminality.

“We will not be complacent and will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to prevent lives being ruined and keep people safe.

“We have removed numerous dangerous weapons from our streets and made arrests for a range of offences including assault, robbery, possession of offensive weapons and possession with intent to supply drugs.

“Prevention remains a force priority, and we will continue working closely with partners to safeguard vulnerable people and to educate children and young people on the dangers of carrying knives.”