Police across Greater Manchester work tirelessly to tackle knife crisis

GMP

The force have responded to a number of serious incidents across Greater Manchester including in Openshaw and Blackley.

Emergency knife crime funding has been confirmed and Greater Manchester Police are set to receive £4m over the next 12 months, but this is considerably less than what has been promised, according to officials.

The Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Hughes has criticised the Home Secretary for breaking promises and abandoning communities. She believes the £4m funding is 'barely a sticking plaster for an issue that is causing significant harm to our communities.'

Greater Manchester Police have promised to distribute the funding across areas most needed to help tackle the on- going knife crisis.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said, "Our longer term work is designed to tackle the incidents of serious violence in particular the carrying and use of knives in our streets, as well as working more longer term with our partners particularly local authorities, public health and education.

In order to get the message and education out around the fact that the carrying of knives leads to the losing of lives, young people sometimes feel they need to carry a knife in order to protect themselves, the reality is and all the statistics tell us they become far more vulnerable.

In the short term, we want to put more policing resources on the streets, more resources into intelligence, investigation and analytical work in relation to serious violent crime and we're doing that already."

Here the Assistant Chief Constable urges the public to play their part in helping tackle the knife crisis:

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.