Crime strategy launches to protect communities across Greater Manchester

The Serious and Organised Crime Strategy places a focus on the pursuit of offenders and targeted action to tackle county lines and prevent people from becoming victims or perpetrators.

The strategy has been drawn up by Programme Challenger – a multi-agency partnership who have been working together since 2013 to tackle individuals and networks operating in Greater Manchester.

The strategy sets out how the partnership will work together to support people who have been exploited by organised crime groups.

Since the launch of Programme Challenger in 2013, warrants and arrests involving organised crime groups have been executed, firearms, drugs and assets seized, and criminals put behind bars.

During 2021, over £7m was seized from individuals involved in serious and organised crime in Greater Manchester and more than 580 firearms were handed over to GMP.

The partnership has also directed young and vulnerable people away from a life of crime.

Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Bev Hughes, said: “This new strategy will focus even more strongly on tackling the root causes of serious and organised crime, while also ensuring we safeguard people and communities. In order to continue the progress we are making in our fight against these horrific crimes the involvement of the public is also important.”

Discussing the plan, Chief Inspector Claire McGuire from GMP said: “This is much more than a piece of paper. This is a pledge to the people of Greater Manchester that we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to keep communities safe and remove the harm and misery caused by this crime type.

“The impact of serious and organised crime is far reaching, and it can manifest itself in many ways, but by working closely with our partners we can build on the success Programme Challenger has already had in dismantling crime groups and stopping them in their tracks.”