Operation AVRO rolls back into Rochdale to crackdown on community concerns
Operation AVRO, a monthly police initiative targeting local crime, returned to Rochdale on 20 March 2025. The operation resulted in 40 arrests, recovery of imitation firearms, uncovering of cannabis farms, and seizure of over £50,000 in assets. High-visibility patrols and specialist operations were conducted across key locations, including the Bee Network tram line and Freehold. Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis emphasized community collaboration and the operation's success in addressing local concerns.
Rochdale Police Arrest 40 in Major Crime Sweep
Police arrested 40 people and seized over £50,000 worth of assets during a major crime operation across Rochdale on Thursday, 20 March 2025. The force-wide initiative, which targets a different district each month, returned to Rochdale with officers executing 15 warrants and uncovering two cannabis farms.
The day began with an early morning briefing at Heywood Sports Village before officers moved on scheduled warrants in Heywood, Middleton and central Rochdale. By 9am, more than 20 arrests had already been made for offences including potential firearms and sophisticated cannabis cultivation linked to extensive drug supply operations.
A traffic operation conducted by the Roads Policing Unit on Queensway complemented the arrests, while the Mounted Unit provided high-visibility reassurance in the town centre. Officers recovered two imitation firearms and deployed knife arches to key locations on the Bee Network tram line and Interchange based on intelligence and previous reports.
Multiple targeted operations ran throughout the day, including Operation Affect in Freehold, Operation Vigilant targeting illegal vape sales and money laundering, and Operation Dragster addressing off-road bike use and anti-social behaviour on the moorland.
Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis of Rochdale district said: “The enforcement day of action is our way of showing clearly what we do on a regular basis to keep Rochdale and our local areas safe. We are always dependent on information from our communities and helps shape what really matters in terms of being able to tackle head-on key concerns.”
Operation AVRO, which launched in Salford in October 2021, delivers extra resources and specialist officers to different districts monthly based on public concerns about crime.
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