The Deputy Mayor joined officers for a patrol of Manchester city centre on Friday Afternoon, to view the continued positive partnership between multiple agencies to tackle retail crime.
The walkabout came at the conclusion of Safer Business Action (SaBA) week, which saw officers deployed across the entirety of Greater Manchester to take part in work tackling retail crime.
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, was joined by Superintendent Nicola Williams for the walkabout, in addition to PC Luke Ellwood, the local business liaison officer.
Numerous retailers were visited across the city centre, with managers and shop workers detailing issues they have had, their work with officers in identifying the individuals, and how GMP can further assist them going forward.
This includes drop-in sessions with stores, proactive patrolling, and arrests of outstanding wanted offenders.
Within the city centre, officers regularly work with stores to identify offenders and ensure the appropriate action is taken. This can include arrests, charges, Criminal Behaviour Orders, imprisonment and the use of out of court disposals.
Officers are also keen to help vulnerable people – and their work also includes working with charities and the council, to signpost them to services including charities and food banks.
The work has seen stores see a marked reduction in certain offences, with stores seeing the benefit of the multi-agency approach to the issue.
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities said: “I was happy to be able to support Safer Business Action Week by joining GMP to visit businesses across Manchester City Centre.
“It was important to learn how initiatives and partnerships between our businesses and GMP have improved how they respond to incidents, and make retail staff feel safer and more able to report incidents. It was also useful to hear how this work has helped to flag when people are vulnerable and ensure they get help.
“A safer Greater Manchester is good for business, good for residents and good for visitors to the city region.”
