Greater Manchester police target knife crime ‘hotspots’ following three fatal stabbings

Over the weekend, Police in Greater Manchester searched over one hundred people in a bid to tackle knife crime.

Section 60 gives police the right to search people without reasonable grounds in a defined area at a specific time.

On Saturday and Sunday, officers stopped and searched 103 people, resulting in six arrests for a range of offences including theft without consent, possession of cannabis and public order offences.

One stolen vehicle was also recovered.

It came after a third fatal stabbing in three consecutive weekends, following the death of 20-year-old Dylan Keelan in Tameside.

Greater Manchester Police said hotspots have been identified and they are doing what they can to reduce knife crime in the area.

What else are police doing?

As well as working with partners and community organisations, GMP’s lead for knife crime, Superintendent Chris Downey, said it’s important to work with families and parents too.

The defined areas include:

- Manchester City Centre

- Broughton and Cheetham Hill, North Manchester

- Central Bolton

- Failsworth and Lime Side, Oldham

- Rochdale

- Broughton, Broughton Park and Kersal, Salford

- Central Stockport

- Tameside

- Stretford and Old Trafford, Trafford

- Westleigh and Wigan Road areas of Leigh, Wigan