Burglaries have reduced more than a third in Bolton following the introduction of a new team to tackle neighbourhood crime across Bolton.

The Bolton Neighbourhood Crime Team (NCT) was formed in April 2022 to confront the crimes that matter most to the local community and has since led to prolific action, with 481 arrests, 278 charges, and one of the highest positive outcome rates across Greater Manchester.

Police bosses say the team’s proactive disruption of suspects and offenders has been relentless, resulting in hundreds of convictions for burglary, robbery and vehicle crime.

As a result, since the team’s inception, burglaries are down 35.5 per cent – meaning around 200 fewer households across the town were a victim of this invasive and devastating crime.

The team also had significant reductions in vehicle theft and robbery; 12.7 per cent reduction in theft of motor vehicle and 12.3 per cent reduction in theft from a motor vehicle in the last 12 months.

The team was recognised at the Chief Constable’s annual awards in October 2023 as GMP’s ‘Team of the Year’.

The Bolton News: Bolon Neighbourhood Crime TeamBolon Neighbourhood Crime Team (Image: GMP)

Detective Sergeant Carla Deighton, of GMP’s Bolton Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “When the team was formed less than two years ago, our aim was clear: to tackle the crimes that matter most to our communities across Bolton, and we have gone a long way in reaching this.

“During that time, our work has been relentless in focusing on the offenders out there causing harm to communities by committing such ruinous crimes like burglary, robbery, vehicle crime and drug dealing.

“We can see the results of the action we have taken, and we’ll continue to do everything in our power to target and disrupt those who blight our town, to ensure Bolton is a safer place for all of us.”

A number of results have been key to this success.

Alex Rigby, 41 and from Stonestead Way, Bolton, was given seven years imprisonment at Preston Crown Court for offences in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside including seven committed in Bolton between February and March of last year.

Lewis Davies, 18 and from Knutshaw Crescent, Bolton,  was jailed for 24 months at Bolton Crown Court this month for a burglary in July of last year.

Stewart Bottomley, 42 and of no fixed abode, was given eight weeks imprisonment in December for a burglary which took place last November.

Thomas Smethurst, 23 and from Hawthorne Street, Bolton, was jailed for 16 months for vehicle offences at Bolton Crown Court this month.

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