N-W is no-go area for armed robbers

GREATER Manchester Police say the North-West will become a no-go area for armed robbers thanks to the success of a crackdown operation.

Operation Vanguard, aimed at reducing armed attacks, has proved a major success over the past year, with 33 offenders being convicted and sentenced to a total of 204 years.

Now GMP is teaming up with other forces across the North-West to safeguard businesses by reducing the number of cash-in-transit attacks in the run up to Christmas.

Armed police will escort high-risk security vehicles, CCTV monitoring will be stepped up and all cash containers will include dye as part of the operation. The force helicopter will also shadow cash-carrying vans during collections and deliveries.

Police say that the operation has already led to a 58 per cent reduction in the number of such attacks this year.

De Chief Insp Pat McKelvey, from Greater Manchester Police’s Vanguard team, said: “The success we’ve had in arresting and convicting so many offenders should be a warning to anyone thinking of committing this type of crime — there is no hiding place for them and they risk spending Christmas behind bars.

“I would like to stress that this is a devastating and often violent crime that can cause deep distress for the victims.

“With Christmas approaching we are determined to keep our communities safer by targeting, deterring and disrupting criminals who carry out Cash In Transit attacks and robberies of commercial and financial premises.”

The public are being urged to help the mission by calling Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111 if they have information.