Machetes, zombie knives and imitation firearm found after Bury raids

Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Operation AVRO, which tackles serious crime in the region, came to Bury and saw a number of dawn raids in Radcliffe, Unsworth and Whitefield.

"Large amounts of cash, drugs and weapons" were found with one search warrant uncovering blades including machetes, zombie knives and an imitation firearm.

Thirty arrests were made on suspicion of a variety of offences including burglary, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, cheches of a court order and possession of firearms.

The day saw GMP engage in a number of activities through "proactive policework", tackling the issues which matter most to the community.

Officers from Bury’s Operation Challenger Team conducted a warrant at a property.

Jordan Winstanley, 28, of Thorn View, Bury, was subsequently charged and remanded for possession of a cannabis, conspiracy to supply cocaine, and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

A traffic operation resulted in a total of 127 offences being recorded, with 71 traffic offences, 56 speeding offences, six prohibition notices, three vehicle seizures and one arrest.

The mounted unit patrolled in Bury town centre during the day while educational stalls around violence reduction were on offer near the Knife Angel monument.

To educate young people, hate crime awareness training was held at Gigg Lane and the police helicopter paid a visit to Chandlers Primary School.

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Chief Superintendent Chris Hill, Commander for Bury, said: “Operation AVRO is our opportunity to intensify our resources across Greater Manchester by taking the fight to the criminal and keeping people in the borough of Bury safe.

“The only way we can take criminals off the streets is by information from the public, and all the activity we executed yesterday is all garnered in this way, so than you to those who have given us such intelligence.

“We’ve arrested 30 people, taken vehicles off the road and our actions, with help from our partners, have seen some significant results across the Bury district.”

Thirty traders were also stopped and spoken to by Bury Trading Standards, of which 10 were advised in relation to their activities.

In partnership with Trading Standards, £12,000 of illegal goods were seized from premises.

Officers visited 12 shops across the borough, accompanied on five occasions by tobacco detection dog Mostyn from SC Detection Dogs.

Mostyn sniffed out various concealed items including 4,240 illicit cigarettes, 1.1kg of hand rolling tobacco and 912 vapes. Other issues were also identified and will be investigated.

Goods seized by Trading Standards (Image: Bury Council)

Cllr Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy, said: “Our enforcement officers are watching, and we will take action against retailers who break the law and sell illegal tobacco and vapes.

“I also urge residents not to buy these products. It’s unfair on law-abiding traders, and these ‘cheap’ purchases actually cause harm to the local community by bringing in crime and getting kids hooked on nicotine.”