Operation Audacious

Greater Manchester Police carried out dawn drugs raids across the city involving 72 arrests with 130 civilians witnesses invited to watch.  

Operation Audacious was watched by members of the community invited by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in a first time initiative.  People from local schools, community centres, councillors and business owners were able to see first-hand how drug dealing in their neighbourhood is being tackled.

In the past few months officers have been building intelligence passed on by residents about those who are suspected of street drug dealing culminating in the largest single drugs strike that GMP has carried out in one day.

Sleepy but eager the BTEC Uniformed Public Service students gathered outside the college in the early hours of the morning having no idea of where they were about to go!  Why the mission had to be kept secret was revealed an hour later as they arrived to witness the start of the biggest operation in Greater Manchester Police history.  Operation Audacious saw a hundred properties targeted in the largest single drugs strike that GMP has carried out in one day.

The students were present when Gold Commander Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson briefed over 1000 officers and then were honoured to be the only educational party invited to travel to the Command Centre, at Sedgeley Park to watch history unfold. 

Course Leader Pete Camm said, "Operation Audacious has provided the students with a real insight in to policing and has certainly raised awareness of the impact of drugs to people within our communities."  One of the students added, “This experience actually made me want to join the Police Force even more.  Although I know that such an operation won’t be a day to day thing it was still very exciting”.     

Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, Divisional Commander for North Manchester, said, “Cracking down on drugs in our communities is a big priority for GMP and I hope today shows the people of Manchester just how seriously we are committed to this cause.” 

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