17-04-2025
The old tactic being used in a new project to smash crime in a Greater Manchester town centre
It's the policing technique that has already made a difference in some of Greater Manchester's most notorious crime hotspots.
The 'clear, hold, build' initiative was first used to crack down on so-called 'Counterfeit Street', in the Bury New Road area of Strangeways.
Similar work has also taken place in Piccadilly Gardens and on the Freehold estate, in Rochdale, in an effort to curb anti-social behaviour.
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Greater Manchester Police has now announced another 'clear, hold, build' project for Rochdale town centre, known as Operation Tetbury.
The aim is to wipe out issues which have plagued the area - with GMP listing shoplifting, drug use, 'aggressive begging', the use of off-road bikes and graffiti among the problems which 'can cause misery to people's lives'.
Inspector Meena Yasin, who is leading the operation, said: "Through a combination of targeted enforcement using criminal, civil and regulatory powers, this operation will see police and partner agencies clear an area of crime and anti-social behaviour, hold that location to prevent other criminality from filling the void, and build resilience so the area is less susceptible to crime and criminal groups operating in the area.
"We know that incidents can often go unreported, which is why we are committed to working with local businesses to build strong lines of communication to ensure we can tackle the issues they are facing by allocating the appropriate resources and measures.
"This is the starting point of a long-term project, but we have already seen results with a number of arrests for drug dealing and shoplifting, and we will continue to build on this."
GMP says the project will clear Rochdale town centre of criminal behaviour, before 'holding' the area by using a variety of police, civil and regulatory powers to prevent criminals returning.
For the 'build' phase, GMP says it will 'work with partners and local organisations to build a prosperous community people feel proud to visit, work, and live in'.
The force first used the approach for Operation Vulcan, which targeted the counterfeit goods trade in Strangeways before cracking down on crime and anti-social behaviour at Piccadilly Gardens.
At Strangeways, the 'build' phase is intended to be more physical, with ambitious plans to regenerate the area in the years to come following the closure of counterfeit shops in the area.
However, a recent Manchester Evening News investigation uncovered how the counterfeit trade has moved online with continuing links to Strangeways, prompting GMP to raid a yard close to HMP Manchester earlier this month.
Last year, Rochdale officers used the same technique to crack down on gang activity and exploitation on the Freehold estate, following an M.E.N. investigation. That work, also led by Insp Yasin, saw GMP receive national recognition.
In Rochdale town centre, GMP says it will work with local partners and residents to discuss the key issues affecting the area, and work with offenders by providing support and signposting them to specialist services in an effort to tackle the root causes of crime.
For younger, 'lower-level perpetrators', GMP says it will work with youth services and other organisations to offer support and new opportunities to avoid being drawn into a cycle of crime.
GMP says it has already identified several perpetrators and issued them with criminal behaviour orders which ban them from entering the town centre or certain shops where they have shoplifted from - with the risk of re-arrest if they flout the order.
Information which could assist police in their mission can be passed on to GMP by calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
