OPERATION SCHOLAR - GMP SEARCH PEEL PARK, LITTLE HULTON FOR HIDDEN KNIVES AND WEAPONS AS PART OF AN ONGOING INITIATIVE AGAINST KNIFE CRIME

Greater Manchester Police were out in force this morning to take part in Operation Scholar, an ongoing initiative to tackle the increasing numbers of knife crimes across the region.

Residents and visitors to Peel Park in Little Hulton may have been shocked to see a large police presence descend on the area -with police officers scouring park-land and undergrowth with sticks. At one point the police even deployed its trusty four legged heroes.

There was no need to be alarmed however, as it was nothing more than the police a pro-active police force scouring the local area for stashed away knives and other weapons which could be used in violent crime.

In mid 2019 police launched a similar initiative 'Operation Sceptre" in which they asked members of the public to help in spotting weapons hidden in public places.

Criminals are increasingly using new tactics to avoid being caught, one of those is to hide weapons in public places so that if caught or searched the police will not find the weapons on their person.

At the time the assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said:

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"It's a sad fact that people are not only carrying knives, but are now also hiding weapons in and around public places and that can be very worrying for members of the public."

Today's search of Peel Park was conducted by Salford Branch with the full backing of Greater Manchester Police.

As a result we are told that a number of knives were found and have now been taken away to be disposed of.

In recent weeks there have been a number of incidents in which knives and even a broken bottle were used in incidents within the Manchester city centre, Salford police have zero tolerance of knife crime and so this morning put on a highly visible and thorough search of this local park.

Knife crime plagues the capital and GMP is doing its upmost to ensure that the trend for stabbings does not become a part of life on their turf.

One lady who was walking her dog 'Harry' told us:

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"I think its great, it's nice to see the police putting on a visible display of force, many of those my age miss seeing the bobby's on the beat.

"There has been a lot of crime around here of late, mainly kids acting up and setting bins on fire etc but there have been more serious crimes.

"I was worried when I first saw the vans and the police all over the place, I feared the worst but I am glad to see them doing something positive."

 

Poetic Justice

The police tackle knife crime in their own way, whereas one Salford woman, Lillian Fallows has decided to tackle it lyrically with a 'cutting' (no pun intended) message to criminals on the devastation that knife crime brings to communities and even those who wield them.

Entitled 'CUTS DEEP' the poem spells out the consequences and reality of carrying a weapon.

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Tightly coiled spring deep within
unfounded reasoning, it’s me or him
heightened reactions, all is unclear
at the end of the day it's driven by fear

Why do we do it ? why why why
Misconceptions ? do or die ?
would it be too easy to just walk away
and allow ourselves to live another day

Evil rises with knife in hand
does it really make you feel so grand ?
think of your loved ones how they would feel
if you become a number on another newsreel

Is it bravado, it's certainly not brave
just look back on the way you behave
is it the way you were brought up ?
how do you feel when you make that first cut ?

Put yourself forward, thirty years ahead
at the family dynamics because you are dead
the children, grandkids, career all gone
because as a teenager you wanted to be "the one"

Life could be so different if attitudes change
if we learn to communicate without all that rage
young people go out, have fun, be free
don't become a statistic, choose life, just "be"

People change when they hold a knife
they have no respect for the value of life
If you are lucky to grow old and grey
I hope you reflect, look back and say
I do remember those words that I read
and ditch the knife, choose life instead.

 

Photos: SM (Police carrying our searches of Peel Park, Little Hulton as part of operation Scholar)