Work is continuing to tackle organised crime and make Salford safer – that’s the message from police and council bosses after a spate of incidents in the city.
Project Gulf, the city’s response to tackling serious and organised crime, is monitoring 67 known offenders who are linked to 19 organised criminal gangs in the city.
It’s pioneering approach, which has won many awards and praise from Home Secretary, Theresa May, sees police work with government agencies and the local council to disrupt the underworld using shared and sophisticated intelligence.
Since Project Gulf’s launch in 2010, offenders have been sentenced to more than 400 years in prison.
And approximately £9.1 million of drugs have been seized from the streets along with 26 firearms and large quantities of ammunition.
Councillor David Lancaster, Deputy Mayor at Salford City Council, said: “Project Gulf continues to make life a misery for criminals and disrupt their activity in the city.
“Recently we have seen a spate of violent incidents, but work continues behind the scenes and visibly on the streets to put organised criminals before the courts.
“Anonymous tip-offs and snippets of information from the public are instrumental to our successes and I would like to thank the people of Salford for standing together with us in the fight against crime.”
Since February 2014, more than £1,000,000 of cash has been seized from criminals who could not prove it was earned legally.
And since January 2014 offenders have been sentenced for more than 44 years in prison for firearms offences – with one offender convicted and yet to receive their sentence and another awaiting trial.
Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle, Salford Area Commander at Greater Manchester Police, said: “Since the operation started we have arrested more than 300 people and many more to come. There is no place in this city for criminals, we have a track record of putting people behind bars.
“People involved in crime should look over their shoulder and be expecting a knock on their door very soon.”
As well as the enforcement activity Project Gulf works hard to prevent people from getting involved in crime. The troubled families’ intervention work which offers whole family support and a new scheme funded by the Police Innovation Funds which will see up to 72 in need Salford families receiving additional support between now and April 2016.
People with information on crime can call police on 101 – or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
