Sleuth public turning the heat on criminals

CRIMEBUSTING residents have helped police make almost 450 arrests in 10 months — including four people on suspicion of murder — across Greater Manchester.

Drugs worth £1.5million and 11 firearms have also been recovered as a result of the calls from the public.

Between last April and January, information led to the arrest of 446 people — an increase of more than a third over the same period the previous year. There were 62 arrests in January alone — the highest single monthly figure ever.

Greater Manchester Police’s intelligence branch coordinates all information received from the independent charity Crimestoppers, which passes on information it gets from people across the country.

Det Supt Neil Evans, from the intelligence branch,thanked the public and praised police staff for their efficient work.

He said: “These figures prove how invaluable a tool Crimestoppers is in our fight against crime and how the information we get, even anonymously, can help bring offenders to justice.

“I am especially pleased at the increase in arrests which is testament to the ongoing relationship between the police and local residents, who have proved they are not willing to put up with criminals living on their doorstep.”

Edith Conn, chairman of the Greater Manchester Crimestoppers Board, said they were delighted with the increase in calls and hoped it would continue.

She said: “It is great to see that so many people want to make a real difference to their own communities. This is having a significant impact in making those communities safer and in driving down crime.”