Operation Avro crime crackdown sees successful results

The high visibility multi-agency Operation AVRO crime crackdown returned to Tameside yesterday (9 November) with successful results including 29 arrests.

The initiative, led by Greater Manchester Police working with Tameside Council and other partners, is a force wide initiative that delivers extra resources and specialist officers to a different district within Greater Manchester each month to address communities’ concerns.

Early morning warrants took place in Hyde, Audenshaw, Denton and Mossley. One warrant at a property in Audenshaw resulted in two people being arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs, failing to appear at court and possession of suspected counterfeit goods.

Officers successfully dismantled a large cannabis farm in Hyde during another warrant. Specialist officers raided the premises and seized a large number of plants and equipment.

A multi-agency public street briefing took place in Ashton-under-Lyne town centre, with staff from Tameside Council’s licensing, trading standards and community safety teams joining forces ahead of a day of proactive policing.

A total of 29 arrests for a range of offences occurred during the day of action.

Partnership work with Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency resulted in traffic enforcement taking place in Droylsden and Haughton Green. A total of 101 traffic offences were committed, including 72 speeding offences and five seized vehicles, with two people arrested.

Tameside Trading Standards officers, GMP and @Wagtails UK Limited visited nine premises following complaints received and intelligence gathered, resulting in seizures in all nine premises. They uncovered 35,660 illicit cigarettes with a street value £23,179, 8.95kg of illicit rolling tobacco, with a street value of £5,012 and 1398 illegal vapes, with a street value of £15,378.

Tameside Council’s licensing team also carried out taxi and private hire checks – all were found to be compliant.

As well as the raids, officers also held events within local communities, such as crime prevention stall in Hyde ran by PCSOs. Tameside Council’s community safety team ran information stands in Ashton Market Hall and Clarendon Shopping Centre in Hyde.

Tameside Council Executive Leader Cllr Gerald Cooney, who joined Supt Mike Walsh to give a briefing to officers on the day, said: “This high visibility crackdown supports our wider, ongoing joint work – that takes place day in, day out - to tackle issues of concern in our local community.

"It is important to us that local people feel safe and protected and it’s good to see such positive results and feedback. Thank you to all the officers involved.

Supt Mike Walsh said: “Yesterday we enjoyed a busy Operation AVRO, seeing significant results across the district of Tameside.

“At our early morning street briefing, we informed the residents about our plans to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in the area, and officers were available throughout the day to answer the public’s questions and concerns.

“This AVRO was a significant blow to the criminals behind this operation, and we will continue to pursue them and bring them to justice.

“I would like to thank the public for their support as we continue to take the fight to the criminals to fight, prevent and reduce crime.”