Police News: Rochdale South

Inspector Gary Hall

Arrests/Warrants:
The Challenger week of action has seen a number of local and national agencies come together to tackle Organised Crime with a specific focus on Illegal Immigration, Sham Marriages, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and vulnerability.

The week of action culminated in over 40 search warrants being conducted at addresses connected to Organised Crime across Greater Manchester and 78 arrests for offences including:

• Illegal Overstaying
• Failed Asylum
• Seeking Leave to Remain by Deception
• Conspiracy to Assist Unlawful Immigration
• Controlling Prostitution
• Managing a Brothel
• Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation
• Possession with Intent to Supply Class A, B & C Drugs
• Breach of Licence Conditions
• Money Laundering
• Benefit Fraud
• Possession of an Offensive Weapon

Nine Notifications of Potential Liability (NOPL) have been served on the employers of subjects arrested for Immigration Offences, attracting employer fines of up to ￡90,000 and demonstrating an excellent disruption tool for the fight against Organised Crime.

Business premises have been served notices for breaches of planning, Health & Safety and Fire regulations, limiting their ability to trade and launder the proceeds of Organised Crime and further demonstrating the value of a partnership approach to disrupt and dismantle Organised Crime Groups (OCGs).

Controlled drugs with a street value of at least ￡287,000 have been seized and prevented from entering circulation to harm our communities.

Around ￡70,000 in cash has been seized, bank accounts have been frozen and restriction orders put in place to control criminal assets and prevent OCGs from furthering their criminal enterprises.

In addition to the enforcement activity conducted over the week a number of Partnership teams have conducted Harm Reduction Visits in Bury, Wigan and North Manchester. These visits were aimed at raising awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) with businesses and their employees, who work in areas where CSE is a risk and where staff may come into contact with vulnerable children who are susceptible to exploitation.

Child protection, Domestic Violence and other safeguarding risks have been identified throughout the week and appropriate interventions expedited by a range of partners working together in real time as activity was conducted.

Additional offences such as Housing Benefit Fraud and breaches of tenancy agreements have been captured and investigations commenced, which seek to reinforce the strength of a partnership approach.

A direct marketing campaign will be launched in conjunction with Crime stoppers over the coming weeks designed to encourage the reporting of Organised Crime in the wake of this week’s activity.

A reassurance letter will be distributed to areas of Greater Manchester where activity has taken place over the coming weeks. This will build upon the engagement activity conducted on the ground following warrants being conducted and arrests made so that our communities understand the partnership work that has taken place and how we are working together to tackle Organised Crime

Events taking place this week:
PCSO Porter will be at Springfield Close Coffee Morning Heywood between 10:00-12:00 on Tuesdays 8 April to offer crime prevention advice or answer any questions you may have.

Greater Manchester Independent Ethics Committee: Applications open for independent Ethics Committee

Applications for the Ethics Committee close on 25th April. The committee is expected to be operational by June. Candidates are requested to send a CV, along with a covering letter outlining their suitability for the role to info@gmpcc.org.uk.

More information, including details of how often the committee will meet, the application process and remuneration, is available at www.gmpcc.org.uk/ethicscommittee.

Queries can be directed to Peter Kidd on 0161 604 7711.

Crime Prevention tips for the week:
We have had eight incidents of Theft from MV this week of which four, where due to property being on display in the vehicle and therefore the offenders have smashed the vehicle windows and stolen items from within.

Please ensure all property is not left on display even a jacket can be an appealing target foe a thief.

Remove the stereo if you can & satellite devices including the support cradle and suction pad (Always wipe away any suction marks left on your windscreen). 

Never store car documents in the car.

Tuck in wing mirrors and put the aerial down to discourage vandalism.