Eleven arrested with drugs and weapons seized across multiple morning warrants in Manchester

Officers conducting warrants in Manchester this morning secured eleven arrests across seven addresses as part of an operation to disrupt, deter, and crack down on gang-related criminality.

The work, which forms part of a wider operation, began at 6am this morning, with officers from the local neighbourhood team and our Tactical Aid Unit entering each premises, securing arrests, and conducting thorough searches of the properties situated in Gorton and Openshaw.

During the work, a quantity of class A and B drugs, weapons including knives, and other suspicious items were seized for further investigation.

Nine males and two women, aged between 16 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences including possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and assault.

They remain in custody for questioning and work is currently ongoing.

The renewed work targeting urban street gangs in the Manchester area comes on the back of violent incidents in recent months, including the shooting of a teenager in October.

The morning activity was designed to disrupt criminality, prevent further incidents, and tackle gangs and the range of issues that can arise from their activity. This includes anti-social behaviour, drug use, and the criminal exploitation of younger people in the community.

Local councillors were in attendance to see the work, which sees officers liaise with council and local officials alike.

Further activity and proactive action is planned as part of the operation, which will see more criminality targeted, more arrests, charges, and work with local partners to reduce and prevent all manner of crimes.

Inspector Dan Pickavance, from GMP’s North Manchester neighbourhood team, said: “We simply will not tolerate incidents which see young people being left with devastating injuries, lifelong issues, and being trapped in a vicious cycle from which they struggle to break out of.

“Our work today is designed to stop exactly those things. We want to get people who we suspect of crime off the streets, seize deadly weapons, and get drugs out of supply before they end up in the hands of vulnerable people.

“The communities of Manchester don’t deserve to be living in fear or having to hear about an awful act of violence of the news. We are working to stop these incidents, stop these feuds, and tackle violence before it even begins.

“I would urge anyone in the community and who has information to please get in touch with us. We always listen to residents who are having issues and all intelligence helps assist us in our ongoing investigations.”

You can report information to the police via 101 or our Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk.

Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.