Winter Operation underway across Greater Manchester as GMP backs Home Office Christmas crime blitz

A Winter crime blitz is underway in Greater Manchester as teams across the force come together to support a Home Office-led campaign.

Local police teams will be supporting the ‘Winter of Action’ as part of its crime-busting Operation North Star which began in November. 

It follows its Safe4Summer work, which saw multiple crimes tackled across the board earlier this year. 

That operation saw shoplifting and theft reduced by 20 per cent, street crime down by 11 per cent, and serious violent crime down by 8 per cent. 

Those results were achieved by a comprehensive policing operation across 10 districts including Oldham, which saw more than 22,000+ patrol hours across 82 hotspots in between June and September. 

In total, the action saw more than 2,000 arrests and more than 1,400 positive stop-searches. 

More broadly, across the board, this type of proactive work has contributed to 10,000 fewer crimes compared to last year as a whole. 

While the work has transferred to the cooler months of December and January, Op North Star will see officers remain red-hot in pursuit of criminality. 

It will continue to focus on issues that people want them to take action on: retail crime, anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, and the night-time economy will all be decisively dealt with across Greater Manchester. 

The Winter months present unique challenges: poor weather conditions, school holidays, an uplift in high-street footfall and an increase in parties can contribute to crime in its various forms. 

But GMP, in collaboration with its many partners across the geography of the force area, said they will stand ready to serve the public to the best of their abilities. 

Whether that’s increased proactive patrols during the ongoing Christmas markets, or monitoring hotspots as reported  by residents, GMP is ensuring plenty of resources are in-place where they need to be. 

Following the Home Office’s funding of a further 176 officers in March, it will be entering 2026 with more than 1,000 neighbourhood police officers who will be ready to take action for them. 

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle, GMP’s lead for Local Policing, said: “Through our ongoing Operation North Star, our local policing teams will be supporting the Home Office’s Winter of Action campaign, and utilise all of the resources we have at our disposal to provide the best possible service to keep the people of Greater Manchester safe. 

“This is robust, partnership-led neighbourhood policing that builds on the Safe4Summer action, which saw crime drop across the board due to the hard work of officers across our ten districts. 

“The Winter period is a time for families and friends to come together and enjoy themselves without the risk of having issues from those who look to cause harm and anti-social behaviour. 

“It is those people that can expect a knock on the door from us, whether it’s a polite word of advice or a new pair of handcuffs for Christmas, we simply won’t tolerate crime or anti-social behaviour in our communities.” 

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: "Everyone deserves to feel secure in their neighbourhoods or when out and about, especially during the festive season. 

"Through Operation North Star, GMP and our partners are working together to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, so that people across Greater Manchester can enjoy this time of year safely and confidently. 

"Together, we’re making sure our communities remain safe, resilient, and supported."