Investigating What Matters: Officers in Oldham Crack Down on Neighbourhood Crime

This week’s round-up highlights the work of our neighbourhood officers in Oldham, showcasing how our teams are delivering GMP’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

Whether it’s visible patrols, safeguarding vulnerable people, tackling crime head-on, or working with partners to solve long-term problems, our officers are making a real difference in their communities.

One of the main operations Oldham officers have been involved with is Operation Vulcan, which aims to crack down on serious crime and anti-social behaviour in Derker.

Operation Vulcan has been ongoing for a number of years but only arrived in Derker in March this year.

Over the past six months, more than 160 arrests have happened as well as 40 weapons seized including four firearms, £92k worth of Class A and B drugs seized and 160 vehicles have been seized for a number of offences including no insurance or dangerous driving.

As well as tackling crime head on, the Vulcan team have taken part in community events including one that happened in Stoneleigh Park back in August.

Neighbourhood officers from Vulcan were joined by PCSOs, Police Cadets, GMP’s Positive Action Team, and officers from our Police Mounted Unit.

The day was a school holiday activity day where children got to meet officers, sit in our vehicles and test out the blue light systems.

Interactive stalls also taught children about policing and the dangers of knife crime.

The event was also important for the community as all children received a free packed lunch, helping to support families in the area.

Throughout the months of July to September, our Safe4Summer campaign was launched to try and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in our town centres.

Throughout this period, neighbourhood officers had support from the Tactical Aid Unit to support issues around vehicle crime and the Mounted Unit were seen in the town centre with a Foundation 92 bus, a mobile youth zone, which was equipped with a PS5 and air hockey to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Oldham town centre also had numerous events on, some of which were Oldham Pride, the opening of a new library and the Nostalgia Festival. All these events were attended by neighbourhood officers to engage with the community and reduce crimes like thefts.

Throughout the month of August, officers worked in partnership with youth services in Oldham town centre.

As part of this, a hub was staffed by a PCSO and was used for youth outreach workers to bring any youths that were committing low level ASB or retail crime to engage and divert them.

Also in August, officers engaged in an operation where three e-bikes were seized for no insurance and one arrest was made. During this operation, trading standards along with neighbourhood officers attended vape shops and seized 8,338 illicit cigarette sticks and 245kg of illicit hand rolling tobacco.

They also seized 1,135 disposable vapes, 63 Labubu dolls and 58 Labubu keyrings which were non-compliant for safety labelling.

The Chadderton neighbourhood team engaged and completed a road traffic safety operation within the South Chadderton and Werneth areas.

Officers focused on the fatal five offences of speeding, driving whilst distracted, not wearing a seatbelt, drink driving and drug driving.

The operation was successful with one vehicle being seized for not having insurance and two males were found to be in possession of cannabis and were dealt with at the roadside.

Over in Saddleworth, there was a band contest taking place which attracted over 10,000 attendees to the area earlier this year.

Neighbourhood officers maintained a visible presence to ensure public safety, manage traffic and engage positively with the community.

Their work meant that minimal incidents were reported, and officers had the opportunity to build trust and gather community intelligence.

In Shaw, a day of action took place a couple of months ago with a focus on begging and shoplifting.

The focus was to do a targeted enforcement and address persistent begging and retail theft with local partners including council enforcement teams and outreach services.

The day was successful with multiple interventions and referral to support services made, arrests were made where appropriate and there was increased reassurance for local businesses and residents.

Oldham neighbourhood officers have been keen to get residents across the borough to sign up to Bee in the Loop with neighbourhood officers visiting local neighbourhoods including St Mary’s, Primrose Hill and Glodwick.

To find out more about what’s happening in your neighbourhood, visit the Your Area pages on our website and sign up to Bee in the Loop – your direct line to local policing updates.