55 arrests, 900-plant cannabis farm and £45k seized in illegal vapes: Operation AVRO hits Stockport in busy day of action

A total of 55 arrests took place during Operation AVRO in Stockport yesterday (Thursday 8 February 2024) for a variety of offences including burglary, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, breaches of a court order, sex offender registration and possession of offensive weapons.

Early morning warrants took place in Cheadle, Heald Green and Marple, uncovering large amounts of cash and drugs.

AVRO is a force-wide initiative that delivers a surge of extra resources and specialist officers to a different district within Greater Manchester each month.

The day saw GMP engage in a number of activities through proactive policework, tackling the issues which matter most to the community.

With the support of the Bury team, officers located a cannabis farm with some 900 plants at an address in Heaton Norris following a morning warrant.

Partners from Trading Standards, deployed with the Neighbourhood Team, seized £45,000 worth of illegal vapes.

A traffic operation in Cheadle Heath resulted in a total of 44 offences being recorded, with 33 traffic offences, 11 speeding offences, six prohibition notices, five vehicle seizures and two arrests.

The mounted unit patrolled in Brinnington and Stockport town centre during the day.

In the afternoon, Operation Rimini - a dedicated response to tackling reports of various offences in Stockport town centre including theft, shoplifting, and anti-social behaviour - patrolled Stockport town centre. PCSOs also provided crime advice and community engagement at Costa Coffee.

To educate young people, a money mule awareness input at Stockport College presented by North West Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCU) which received positive feedback from students.

Detective Rick Arthern, of GMP’s Stockport District, said: “We’ve had a hugely successful Operation AVRO in Stockport, with a total of 55 arrests for a range of offences, including drug supply occurred during the day of action.

“Proactive police work resulted in a number of arrests including one suspect with a knuckle duster and extendable baton in Stockport town centre, swiftly dealt with by the neighbourhood team.

“We were well supported on the day by resources from across the force, our dedicated Op Rimini team and our partners including Trading Standards and North West ROCU.

“I would like the thank everyone who supported us on the day, including members of the public who took time to speak to our officers about any issues they may have, and whose information meant we could conduct warrants and seizures and achieve such significant results.”

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 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)