Officers across Greater Manchester made 17 arrests last night (Thursday 5 November) as part of Operation Treacle.

Operation Treacle is our response to anti-social behaviour linked to fireworks and Bonfire Night.

Throughout the evening, officers used dispersal powers to prevent further disorder, seized fireworks, and carried out targeted patrols in identified hotspot locations.

These proactive tactics will continue throughout the Bonfire Night period, alongside engagement with local communities, local authorities and partner agencies.

Operation Treacle is supported by close collaboration with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), with firefighters and police officers working together throughout the operation to respond to incidents, share intelligence and protect communities.

GMFRS colleagues also worked alongside us within a joint command structure, helping coordinate the response across Greater Manchester.

The arrests made last night are all linked to anti-social behaviour and the misuse of fireworks, either through incidents reported by members of the public or offences identified proactively by neighbourhood officers on patrol with the support of response officers and officers from the Tactical Aid Unit.

Of the 17 arrests made across Greater Manchester, eight were in Tameside after receiving reports of youths using fireworks in Millennium Green Park in Ashton-Under-Lyne, they were tracked by our drone’s unit and arrested in a nearby shop on suspicion of affray.

Officer across Greater Manchester also conducted over 160 stop and searches and seized over 600 fireworks, demonstrating the force’s continued commitment to tackling behaviour that causes harm, fear and disruption within our communities.

As communities come together for Bonfire Night celebrations and events across the weekend, neighbourhood teams will remain highly visible, working alongside partners to prevent crime, tackle anti-social behaviour, and address concerns raised by local residents.

It is important to remember:

• It is a criminal offence for anyone under the age of 18 to possess fireworks in a public place.
• It is also an offence to throw or set off fireworks in the street, or use them in a way that causes danger, harassment, alarm, distress, or intimidation to others.

Chief Superintendent Nicola Spragg the gold commander for the operation said: “Bonfire Night should be a time for families, friends and communities to come together safely and enjoy celebrations across Greater Manchester.

“Unfortunately, a small minority choose to misuse fireworks and engage in anti-social behaviour, causing fear, distress and even firing fireworks at emergency service vehicles.

“Through Operation Treacle, officers and partner across Greater Manchester are carrying out targeted patrols, responding swiftly to incidents, and taking positive action against those who break the law or put members of the public at risk.

“The 17 arrests made last night demonstrate our commitment to keeping people safe and ensuring everyone can enjoy Bonfire Night without fear of disorder or intimidation.

“We will continue to have officers out in our neighbourhoods throughout the weekend and beyond, so that people can feel safe, spend time with their loved ones and enjoy the celebrations. We would also urge anyone witnessing anti-social behaviour or the misuse of fireworks to report it to us so we can take action.”

Area Manager (Head of Training) Paul Fearnhead said: “Firefighters responded to a significant number of Bonfire Night-related incidents across Greater Manchester, including several deliberate fires. It is unacceptable that emergency responders encountered anti-social behaviour while carrying out their duties and working to protect local communities.

“Any behaviour that puts members of the public or emergency service personnel at risk is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“We welcome the arrests made by police following last night’s activity and will continue working with partners to reduce risk and keep our communities safe.”

If you witness anti-social behaviour or the misuse of fireworks, please report it via 101, Live Chat, or 999 in an emergency. You can also contact your local neighbourhood policing team through Bee in the Loop.