A MAN was arrested after police searched two men they said were acting suspiciously late last night.

Officers were on patrol in Breightmet last when they spotted the two in the Stephens Street area.

The two men were stopped, with one taken into custody after officer say they found drugs and a knife.

A spokesman for GMP Bolton North said: "Whilst on mobile patrol in the Breightmet area, officers were drawn to two males acting suspiciously.

"Both were searched, one was sent on his way, one was given a lift to custody for the night, arrested for possession of a bladed article and class B."

The stop and search comes just weeks after police enhanced their stop and search powers in parts of Bolton, and across the region after three fatal stabbings in Greater Manchester.

Operation Sycamore has been launched to tackle, prevent and reduce knife crime.

The operation has seen extra uniformed officers within communities across the region, specifically targeting hotspot areas for crime. Officers have focused on engaging with young people; challenging and responding to anti-social behaviour and crime and exercising their stop and search powers when required.

As a result, between Saturday 5 February and Sunday 13 February 2022, officers arrested 21 people across Greater Manchester for a range of serious offences including attempted murder, rape, possession of a pointed and bladed article, possession of offensive weapons, public order offences and burglary.

58 stop searches were conducted resulting in nine people being found in possession of cannabis and one person in possession of an offensive weapon.

Five weapons including a machete and a bat have also been seized.

An additional five people were arrested for drink driving after officers stopped 41 vehicles.