Police blockade crime hotspots

Dean Kirby

July 08, 2009

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Insp Chris Gloster with operation Tornado

POLICE are to blockade neighbourhoods with Baghdad-style checkpoints in a bid to catch criminals.

A hand-picked team of officers are setting up roadblocks as part of a series of lightning strikes on crime hotspot areas.

GMP is thought to be the first force in Britain to trial the new tactic from Wednesday.

Civil liberties campaigners say they will monitor how it works.

US police in Washington were criticised last year after they set up security checkpoints following a spate of shootings.

Critics compared the approach to the security clampdown in Baghdad.

Senior officers at GMP say the operation will see crime-hit neighbourhoods being blockaded to target a wide range of offenders.

Targeted

Traffic officers will set up checkpoints using number-plate recognition technology.

Officers from the force's Tactical Vehicle Crime Unit will also be deployed with intercept cars and motorbikes.

Neighbourhood officers and a drugs dog will also patrol the checkpoints. Police say the areas to be targeted will be identified by intelligence officers.

A spokeswoman said: “As well as bringing criminals to justice, it is hoped that the new unit will help gather intelligence and raise local confidence in what the police are doing to fight crime.

“Though the teams will be dealing with a wide range of crimes brought to their attention, there will be a particular emphasis on targeting burglars in the coming months.”

The operation was being launched on Middleton Road, at Bowkervale, Blackley, on Wednesday.

Lightning strikes

Det Chief Supt Russ Jackson, who is leading the scheme, said: “With Operation Tornado we will effectively lock down areas suffering outbreaks of crime and quickly bring offenders to justice.

“The team will make lightning strikes on a badly affected area and then be rapidly deployed to their next target area, keeping offenders guessing where they will hit next.

“Operation Tornado will be putting the heat on criminals this summer but will be a real breath of fresh air to the law-abiding citizens living in the affected areas.”

Police in Washington DC used the scheme to check drivers’ and those without a ‘legitimate purpose’ in the area were turned away.

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john davis, Salford (08/07/2009 at 12:28)

Hope they catch some of their own drinking and driving, speeding, selling data off the PNC etc etc

Phil Taylor, Bolton (08/07/2009 at 12:34)

So, was the massive traffic jam on Chapel Street this morning, with delays as far back at Pendleton caused by this?

Police had parked a number plate recognition car in the bus lane, causing buses to have to squeeze into the main traffic lanes. Beats the point of a bus lane, don't you think?

Call me a cynic, but it's probably a cover for another revenue generating exercise, catching the unwary who stray for a few yards into a bus lane.

Have they thought how much environmental damage the traffic jam they created caused, or the economic damage the delays to workers getting into the city caused?

Of course, they will argue that it's 'preventing terrorism'.

Since when have commuters been a 'crime hotspot'?

Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (08/07/2009 at 12:37)

After yesterdays report that GMP are considering the use of water cannons on the streets of Greater Manchester this news of checkpoints, which with water cannons were also used in Northern Ireland, is further evidence of the militarisation of the police in the UK. Why is it, it seems, that it is only GMP that are considering these styles of policing; is there something that senior police officers know but are not telling the people about?

DANEBANKBLUE, DB (08/07/2009 at 12:41)

why tell everyone about it first?

Panzer 391, Salford (08/07/2009 at 12:43)

Dare they try it in Moss side and Longsight ? we will see but I wont hold my breath.

Black Flag (08/07/2009 at 12:48)

As soon as the police start to interfere with the freedom of the peaceful citizen to go about his or her business, they become the very thing they are supposed to be preventing.

When looked at as a whole, recent stories seem to indicate that GMP is corrupted beyond the point of rehabilitation. It needs to be disbanded.

Ace , manchester (08/07/2009 at 13:21)

At last spot checks,It should be on drivers fingerprints to check they are who they ? i see lots of cars being driven by very young drivers who would find it very very expensive to pay for the insurance never mind the car.And people who drive high powered cars while on benefits need looking at.

Your havin a laugh, Tameside (08/07/2009 at 13:24)

Yep, just advertise the location in advance, thus giving said t**ds prior notice to avoid the area.

keyjockey, Manchester (08/07/2009 at 14:07)

This worthless shower known as GMP is now reduced to the investigative equivalent of throwing a hand grenade into a river and calling it fishing. Having advertised it in advance, it's pointless anyway - leaving aside the shocking infringement of civil liberties - where is Shami whatsit when you need her? Probably complaining that some murderer's rights have been infringed because they've been jailed. Hang on, I thought Manchester's relentless expansion of CCTV had cured crime?

Mark,Radcliffe. (08/07/2009 at 14:20)

The strategy for "Operation Tornado" is summed up in the statement,'keeping offenders guessing where they will hit next'...because that is all it does....Target individual criminals and hit them directly.Why should honest law-abiding citizens have to be subjected to this particular Police tactic,just because they have the misfortune of living in an area which has burglars living on or operating there ? Get the basic policing strategy right first and police the streets,before engaging in SWAT style operations.

to the point, bury (08/07/2009 at 14:36)

Lancashire Police used to do this (in the late sixties) on Friday and Saturday evenings in and around Little Hulton, most nights upto ten drunk drivers, untaxed cars and several stolen cars were caught. The trick was to have traffic car on the approch to the check point and nab anyone turning around.
Let the police at least try it.
The old saying was 'dont knock it till you have tried it'

Mark,Radcliffe. (08/07/2009 at 15:05)

to the Point,Bury..I can only reiterate the HMI comments made recently in reference to the G20 demo and the Police tactics as employed.They "were inadequate for the modern day".So too the late 60's were then,but this is now....I'd be interested to see which local neigbourhood policing meeting Mr Russ Jackson attended,to come up with the idea of "Operation Tornado" as being a perfect response,having listened to the needs of a Community.Its not the vision of neighbourhood Policing I had envisaged.

ipswich manc, ipswich (08/07/2009 at 15:09)

I thought we lived in a free country,this is a joke.

Marquis de Sade et la petit monge tout (08/07/2009 at 15:14)

It will work for a while and then there will be riots like the early 80's, an expensive inquiry and a decision that police should no longer harass people without solid intelligence. We have been here before methinks.

The Higher Openshaw Exile, MANCHESTER (08/07/2009 at 15:25)

No matter how many they catch, it's the courts that must do the job of making sure these law breakers get what they deserve and not just a slap on the wrist and a fine. With out the courts handing out long prison terms this exercise is a complete waste of time.

Ace , manchester (08/07/2009 at 16:51)

ipswich manc, ipswich
How free do you want it? do you want it where we have uninsured drivers use cars or unlicenced/illegal drivers on the road, we are as free as can be,but we need safe roads away from these idiots who think they can do what they want.there way isnt freedom.

Of Denton, Tameside (08/07/2009 at 17:08)

The economy is in decline, people are losing their jobs and therefore crime is rising. Let the police get on with it, and if you are a law abiding citizen you have nothing to worry about.

Black Flag (08/07/2009 at 18:25)

Of Denton: "if you are a law abiding citizen you have nothing to worry about."

If you are a law abiding citizen, the police have no business interfering with your freedom to go about your lawful activities.

Calvers, Ashton-under-Lyne (08/07/2009 at 18:49)

Excellent idea. About time too. Perhaps they’ll catch the little criminals who car jacked me.

Theowolfe (08/07/2009 at 19:21)

Black Flag is absolutely correct, GMP cannot be reformed, it needs to be disbanded and start again.

I wonder what legislation allows them to do this?

judge dredd, manchester (08/07/2009 at 20:16)

i think it's police abusing their powers , they should only stop you if they have reasonable cause, or if they think you are a terrorist, or if a major criminal act has taken place .
this is just a revenue creating excercise ,enforcing statute laws but remember ,A Statute only carries the force of law upon you if you consent to it. If you do not give your consent, a Statute cannot affect you in any way whatsoever

A Singleton, Gorton (08/07/2009 at 21:00)

It's a well-documented fact that people driving untaxed/uninsured vehicles are often banned drivers or involved in criminal activity.

No doubt we'll have Shami Chakrabarti belly-aching about it on the news soon, though (wearing more eyeliner than Capt. Jack Sparrow).

More of the same, please. Gorton next !

Black Bottle, Whitefield (08/07/2009 at 21:11)

Yawn!!! another gimmick to disguise the lack of REAL Police officers.

Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (08/07/2009 at 21:26)

Trust me..... this use of number-plate recognition technology used for catching real villains and crooks is the way forward. They can "lock down" my neighbourhood any time and I'd be grateful that when I go to work my house isn't screwed by villains in a non taxed, non insured shared vehicle.
I only wonder whether the selection of "hand-picked team of officers" accords with legislation on diversity and equal opportunities...surely an application and interview process would have been fairer

fghfgh, Here (08/07/2009 at 22:07)

To anyone who says, "if you're doing nothing wrong, you've got nothing to worry about", you are very misguided, they (the gov) are taking away our civil liberties at an alarming rate.

What ever happened to the civil police force? When did they turn into the government's strong arm force? It's ironic, all those people worried about the BNP coming into power, during the european elections, because "they're facist", and they don't notice we are already under the control a fascist government.

Btw I didn't vote BNP and I'm not a criminal. If you don't labour are fascist in ideology, you need to read more about fascism.

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