Manchester City Centre officers make two arrests following a series of disorder and robbery offences

Officers from GMP’s City Centre district have made two arrests in relation to a series of youth disorder and robberies in the city centre area in the last two weeks.

On the evening of Tuesday 26 December 2023, at around 5pm, officers received reports of a disturbance involving a large group of people at the Arndale Centre in Manchester City Centre.

Officers attended and in collaboration with the Arndale’s security staff and Manchester City Council’s CCTV, two juveniles were arrested at the scene and released under investigation.

Officers were also made aware of a robbery in the Piccadilly Gardens area of Manchester on 3 January, where two 15-year-old boys had their high value designer coats stolen by a group of other boys who had threatened them.

Detectives continue to investigate these two incidents and believe they are part of a linked series of crime in the city centre.

As a result of both incidents, officers from the city centre central neighbourhood officers and dedicated Neighbourhood crime team conducted early morning warrants in Clayton and two boys aged 15 and 16 were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and robbery offences. They remain in custody ahead of being questioned by detectives.

During the warrant, two high value designer coats were recovered and have been seized for forensic recovery.

Chief Inspector Steve Wiggins, from City of Manchester district, said: "We're aware that these incidents are causing considerable concern to residents and those visiting the city centre.

“We have deployed neighbourhood officers to work alongside partners including staff in the Arndale Centre to conduct patrols to provide a visible reassurance and speak to any individuals who are causing issues.

"These arrests today are exactly the sorts of results we want to deliver and what our communities rightly expect from us, and will continue this momentum by conducting CCTV trawls and we will investigate any new information and lines of enquiry fully to bring those responsible to justice.

"We're continuing to work with our partners to tackle this issue and would like to reassure nearby residents, and visitors to the city centre, that we'll continue to deploy extra officers and deal with those involved appropriately.

“Our focus will continue to remain on robust action towards those who we suspect of being involved in violent crime to keep our communities safe.”

“We continue to appeal for any information or video footage, specifically any mobile video from the Arndale Food Court on 26 December 2023 at around 5pm to contact officers on 0161 856 6164 quoting log 1901 of 26/12/2023.”