33 arrests, 80 traffic offences and £19k in illegal vapes seized as Operation AVRO makes dent in criminality across Bury
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) conducted Operation AVRO in Bury, resulting in 33 arrests for offences like drug supply and burglary, seizure of £19k in illegal vapes and tobacco, and reporting of 80 traffic offences. The operation included high-visibility patrols, community engagement, and joint visits with tobacco-trained dogs. Chief Constable Stephen Watson and Mayor Andy Burnham highlighted the success of neighbourhood policing in reducing crime.
33 Arrests in Bury as Police Launch Major Crime Crackdown
Police arrested 33 people across Bury yesterday during a major operation targeting drug dealers, burglars and illegal traders. The raids formed part of Operation AVRO, Greater Manchester Police’s monthly initiative that floods different districts with extra officers to tackle community concerns.
Officers gathered at dawn beside the Sir Robert Peel statue in Bury town centre before fanning out across Radcliffe, Whitefield, Prestwich and Bury to execute warrants. Teams seized £12,300 worth of illegal vapes, £5,745 of counterfeit cigarettes and £1,290 of hand-rolling tobacco, alongside fake Apple products including watches, headphones and AirPods. Tobacco detection dogs helped uncover the illicit goods during joint visits to local stores.
The operation also targeted road crime, with officers reporting 80 traffic offences, conducting 11 stop searches and recovering one stolen vehicle. High-visibility patrols swept through Bury town centre, Millgate Shopping Centre and the transport interchange throughout the day.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who joined officers on patrol with Mayor Andy Burnham, declared: “We pride ourselves on the fact that our policing model is seen as an exemplar of what good neighbourhood policing looks like. Robbery has fallen by 26%, burglaries have fallen by 33%, we’ve more than doubled arrests, have increased stop and search by more than 392% - that is what our people are doing.”
Mayor Burnham praised the operation’s success: “Operations like Avro and Vulcan have been staggeringly successful at rooting out entrenched crime in areas like Cheetham Hill and are a real testament to Stephen Watson and GMP as a whole today.”
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