Officers discover cannabis farm and deter criminality during week-long burglary operation

A week-long proactive policing operation in Blackley resulted in the discovery of a cannabis farm, while also producing no reports of residential burglaries thanks to the hard work of the local neighbourhood team.

Throughout last week (beginning Monday 4 September), covert patrols monitored known hotspots, ready to leap into action upon reports or detection of suspected criminality in the area.

Officers had received reports of burglaries occurring in recent weeks and have immediately acted to ensure that criminals know that the neighbourhood team is dedicated to cracking down on those who can make people feel unsafe in their own homes.

During the week Blackley's teams worked alternating shifts, covering days and nights and carrying out a number of anti-burglary measures; liaising with specialist officers, building intelligence, monitoring known offenders, and putting in future plans for issues.

On Thursday 7 September, leading into the 8th, officers received reports that a house was being burgled in Middleton Road, Blackley – with neighbourhood and response officers quickly out to the scene. Upon arrival, a car was seen to make off from the area – where it was pursued and stopped.

One man in his 20s was subsequently arrested on suspicion of offences including burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, and driving dangerously.

Upon searching the address, officers found a suspected cannabis farm, with a number of plants and paraphernalia seemingly having recently been taken. A number of fully-grown and baby plants were recovered, with it being estimated that there were around 250 plants prior to the suspected burglary.

Specialist officers worked over the weekend to dismantle the equipment and grow found in the address, with the work further encapsulating Blackley’s neighbourhood officers' determination to investigate burglaries – including if the property in question is a suspected cannabis farm!

Further arrests throughout the week included a teenager arrested on suspicion of possession of a class B drug, and a man arrested on suspicion of assault.

Inspector Antonia Jackson, from Greater Manchester Police’s Manchester district, said: “Our local officers received reports of burglaries and have been quick to act, allocating resources aimed at deterring this crime, which we always take care to investigate as a force priority issue.

“I want people in the Blackley area to know that we take their reports extremely seriously. Upon receiving reports of burglaries occurring over the last month, we immediately put in place plans for an operation, which has been a huge success.

“We received no reports of home-based burglaries in the area during the week, which is a testament to the hard work of the neighbourhood team, who have been rigorously patrolling the area and investigating all criminality. The one report we received of a burglary was at an address used to grow suspected drugs, so that was a double win for our team.”

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