Knife carrier arrested after attempting to flee officers in Moss Side

A 16-year-old boy remains in custody after officers from Greater Manchester Police's City of Manchester Robbery Tasking Team recovered a dangerous knife during proactive patrols in Moss Side yesterday.

Officers were conducting plain-clothed patrols in the area when they observed three boys climbing over a fence on Galgate Close, Manchester.

The group was stopped by officers and detained for searches under Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). Two of the boys were searched, with no items of concern found.

However, whilst officers were carrying out the searches, a third boy, ran from the scene.

Officers immediately chased him on foot, pursuing him through a number of alleyways and residential gardens before successfully containing and detaining him nearby.

Following a search, officers recovered an extremely sharp and dangerous flick-style hunting knife, along with a small quantity of cannabis.

He was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and drug offences and remains in custody for questioning.

The arrest forms part of the City of Manchester Robbery Tasking Team's ongoing proactive work to tackle violent crime, robbery and the carrying of dangerous weapons across Manchester.

Police Inspector Leon McLaughlin from GMP's City of Manchester Robbery Tasking Team, said:

"This arrest highlights exactly why proactive policing is so important. Our officers were out carrying out targeted patrols when they identified suspicious behaviour and took immediate action.

"When the suspect attempted to flee, officers acted quickly and professionally to pursue and detain him. Thanks to their swift actions, a dangerous knife has been removed from our streets before it had the opportunity to cause serious harm.

"We are committed to identifying individuals who pose a risk to our communities, including those carrying weapons, engaging in criminal activity and not just those solely linked to robbery.

"We know that knife crime causes significant concern within our communities, and we want the public to know that we will continue to proactively target offenders, remove weapons from circulation and take positive action to keep people safe."

Anyone with information about crime or anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood can contact Greater Manchester Police via 101, or report information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.