Operation Avro returns to Oldham, resulting in 40 arrests and £20k in illegal vapes seized

Thursday, 18 January 2024 09:54

GMP’s first Operation Avro of 2024 resulted in a total of 40 arrests for a range of offences, including drug supply, conspiracy to supply firearms, and the importation of controlled substances, which occurred during the day of action.

Items seized include drug paraphernalia, high-value Rolex watches, a sports car and a loaded firearm. A cannabis farm was uncovered in Chadderton, resulting in a male being arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis, and many cannabis plants being seized.

In partnership with Trading Standards, the Oldham Neighbourhood Team conducted six premises visits to check for illegal vapes and cigarettes. Four premises had items seized, totalling 1,313 vapes and 310 packs of illicit cigarettes, with a value of £20,411.

The adverse weather conditions resulted in considerably lower-than-expected traffic operation returns, with the check site cancelled. Despite this, 19 traffic offence reports were issued, three vehicle seizures for no insurance, and a man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence at Darker Metrolink Station.

Officers executed a series of warrants and targeted operational activity, leading to the discovery of a sophisticated chop shop. Chop shops are often linked to car theft rings as part of a broader organised crime enterprise.

Two recently stolen vehicles were found with their parts stripped and ready to be sold. One man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to handle stolen goods.

Oldham Youth Service and GMP hosted the second Youth Independent Scrutiny Panel.

During the panel, young people aged 13-19 watched body-worn footage and discussed how the officers handled the situation. A Q&A panel to discuss policing, crime and feeling safe in Oldham was also held with senior officers.

A youth conference was also held with young people, in partnership with Oldham Council, at Oldham Athletic Football Club earlier in the day.

Avro is a force-wide initiative that delivers extra resources and specialist officers to a different district within Greater Manchester each month.

Officers and teams deployed across the district will continue to undertake proactive policing.

Chief Superintendent Phil Hutchinson, District Commander for Oldham, said: “We had several operations take place throughout the day in what was a busy day for our officers across the district.

“This year, in partnership with Oldham Council, we had more of a focus on young people, and our youth conference saw us engage with young people from a number of secondary schools from across the district, where we discussed issues that affected them and their friends.”

Operation Avro is a force-wide initiative that delivers extra resources and specialist officers to a different district within Greater Manchester each month and was launched in Salford in October 2021.

Since then, it has travelled around the force with the operation targeting crimes and concerns that members of the public in that district have told GMP to give them the most concern.

“These operations are excellent for the public but very good for staff morale. It sees a lot of resources; we execute many warrants and then go out and arrest people; that's why we joined the police,” he said.