A special police operation to combat violent crime and serious criminality has seen a reduction in knife crime.

The number of knife-related offences recorded by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) fell by 131 in the 12 months to December 2022 compared to the previous year.

Knife-related murders also fell by 18.75 per cent.

Superintendent Caroline Hemingway, GMP’s lead for knife crime said: “Though GMP is evidently making progress in preventing and reducing this type of crime, there is still a long way to go and that’s exactly why Operation Venture was launched.

“Within the first month of the team being introduced, we’ve made several significant arrests and seized weapons to ensure these aren’t being used on our streets, and to ultimately to keep our communities safe.

“Through this team, we have a better understanding now more than ever of our violent hotspots across the force and how we can respond to these effectively. Officers from Operation Venture also support the continued delivery of public and youth engagement and education programmes.

“Disruption visits to known violent offenders have also been a huge focus of the team and these will continue during focused days of action across Greater Manchester. We are also committed to working with local community safety partners from councillors to educators.

“Through stop and search alone, 405 weapons were removed from Greater Manchester streets last year. This is a 50 per cent increase on the previous and a figure we hope to build on during 2023. I would, however, like to use this opportunity to offer reassurance that the force taking steps to ensure this power is exercised legally and ethically.

“Though GMP will continue doing everything in its power to fight knife crime, communities need to continue sharing their concerns and any intelligence.”

Operation Venture is comprised of fulltime, specially selected, and ring-fenced officers who have been working with districts to target known offenders, patrol hot spot locations and keep communities safe.

Tactics include:

  • Weapon sweeps
  • Proactive patrols across hot spot areas
  • Arrests
  • Stop and search
  • Community engagement
  • Assisting divisional response teams with grade one calls - where there is an immediate threat to life or use of violence.

It complements the work of Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit – a multi-agency team that seeks to address the underlying causes of violence and works together with communities to prevent it.

GMP can be contacted via gmp.police.uk or 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.

Information about crime can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.