On crime and safety we are listening and acting

On crime and safety we are listening and acting

By Cllr Kevin Anderson, Cabinet Member for Police, Crime and Civil Contingencies

It is a well-known saying that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.

So, it was heartening to see Greater Manchester Police’s high-profile blitz across our borough last week as part of Operation Avro, on 28th July 2022. There was a full day of intensive enforcement action, alongside GMP to educate, detect and reduce crime in the borough.  Our joint teams hit the streets early in the morning and worked until late at night.

58 arrests were made, including 16 for Domestic Abuse.  3 weapons and 9 vehicles were seized. 133 speed offences were noted, along with 76 traffic offences. 

The council supported with joint trading standards, Community Resilience Team, Public Service Reform Hub, Domestic Abuse and Asylum seeker support teams were all out in force on the day.  Our work included 16 tenancy enforcement actions, Anti-social behaviour (ASB) visits to perpetrator, 29 youths engaged around ASB, 26 welfare visits and 2 safeguarding referrals, 18 visits to victims of domestic abuse and 7 joint visits with Immigration Officers on the day.

The work done by our teams was a testament to their hard work, dedication and professionalism. To undertake they actions below on the day required a huge amount of preparation, planning and staff knowledge and experience. We are very proud of all the teams who took part and the actions taken.

Reaction from residents on social media was incredibly positive and showed how much support the police, council and partners have in cracking down on individuals who break the law and make other people’s lives a misery.

We know how much crime and safety means to people in our borough.

In our Big Listening exercise people told us it was THE most important issue for local communities, and we have listened to that feedback.

In recent months, the council has announced an investment of £500,000 for new CCTV cameras in Wigan, Leigh, Ashton and Pemberton.

We have also brought in an additional £750,000 funding to tackle neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental crime in Platt Bridge and Scholes.

And we continue to deliver a blitz on fly-tipping rogues in the borough with 47 penalties issued and 13 cases brought to court.

These are great boosts for our drive for improved community safety but we recognise there is a lot more to do.

Rest assured as a council we will continue to work with GMP in Wigan and Leigh under the leadership of Chief Superintendent Emily Higham, and our partners across the Place and Community Safety Partnership, to support law abiding people in our borough.