Bolton's Operation Avro leads to 'cells filling up'

Police carried out a borough-wide day-long sting as part of Operation Avro, which is running across Greater Manchester.

Drug farms were discovered, wanted criminals found and dangerous drivers arrested over the course of today.

Areas targeted included Great Lever, Halliwell, Tonge Moor and Farnworth as between 80 and 100 officers converged on Bolton along with specialist units.

Speaking from Scholey Street Police Station Assistant, Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: "We're bringing all our assets together."

"The cells are filling up here in Bolton, we've had people arrested for assault, for rape we've had cash seized.

"It's really showing the people of Bolton we're out there keeping them safe."

Starting with a briefing at 6.30am, Acting District Commander Superintendent Steph Parker said that the morning's sweep had been organised for "months and months".

She said: "I want us to be the best but what we do in Bolton is authentic."

"Operation Avro is an opportunity for us to show our commitment to the people of Bolton.

“We are listening to your concerns and we are acting on it.

“Over the next 24 hours you will see multiple drug and evidence warrants being executed across the town.”

Superintendent Parker explained that this had been led by a long period of intelligence gathering, all leading up to the day of action.

She said: “In summary, we are targeting those individuals that are causing us the most serious harm in our communities.

“We will get justice for you and the people of Bolton.”

The first raid took place in Great Lever just before 7am and a group of nine men were arrested.

A woman was arrested in Halliwell less than an hour later, with a cannabis farm uncovered in Farnworth just ten minutes.

Police used drones to monitor the area.

The cannabis farm was discovered on Harroby Street after police searched a house, they say, they had been suspicious about for some time.

While officers conducted raids across the borough, mounted police were on patrol in the town centre to provide a visible presence marking the day.

Officers also visited a caravan site in Little Lever, alongside police from Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire Constabularies.

Vehicles, plant machinery and caravans were seized.

Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said: “It’s a collective effort across districts, all around the force with specialist operations, bringing all the strength and resilience of Greater Manchester Police and its partners and its communities together to tackle crime, issues that are at the heart of our communities.

“It's been really successful, there are a number of arrests which have been made today.”

The police’s partners included Bolton Council and licensing officials, with cabinet member for stronger communities Cllr Mudasir joining some of the raids.

District Commander Chief Supt Steph Parker is joined by Cllr Mudasir Dean, ACC Scott Green, Cllr Martyn Cox, Tony Oakman, Andrew Bolan and Phil Mykytiuk

He said: "I thought it was really important to be out and about and see what was going on

"I've been briefed on this for months now and then planning by Steph and her team has been absolutely meticulous."

He added: "I've been to a number of briefings now and it's all going smoothly and we've had a good number of arrests."

Aside from arrests, the officers also cracked down on businesses with Ramiro’s Mini Market on St Helens Road given a three-month closure order after it was found to have been selling illicit tobacco, alcohol without a licence and nitrous oxide.

Assistant Chief Constable Scott Green and Bolton Council’s Andy Bolan took part in the action

A tattoo parlour on Chorley Old Road was also closed for unsanitary conditions and for operating on people while under the influence of drink and drugs.

Shop forced to close in the first order of its kind issued in Greater Manchester

For the rest of the day, officers also took part in weapons sweeps at parks across the borough like Leverhulme Park in an effort to prevent further violence.