The number of police operations involving firearms in Greater Manchester has increased since last year.

New Home Office figures show that armed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers were utilised 631 times in the year to March 2022. This figure represents an increase of a third from the year before, when the amount of such operations was 475.

There are a number of recent examples of armed police being called for in Bolton, including two in July – once after reports of a weapon at an address in Halliwell, and another after gunshots were allegedly heard in Tonge Fold.

Superintendent Danny O’Neill, of GMP's Bolton district, says that armed officers in Bolton can be deployed to a range of incidents.

He said: “Firearms officers are utilised for all types of incidents, not just those involving firearms and other weapons. 

"This is part of our aim to prevent and reduce crime, harm and anti-social behaviour. 

“More proactive use of our specialist resources offers greater reassurance to our communities, with them supporting our district colleagues and force operations.”

The Bolton News: Armed police at the scene in Halliwell last month. Credit: Twitter user @technical2626Armed police at the scene in Halliwell last month. Credit: Twitter user @technical2626

In the vast majority of cases, when an armed response is mounted weapons are not discharged.

Nationally, there were just four incidents of this happening in the year to March 2022, which equates to 0.02 per cent of all firearm operations across England and Wales.

“Reassuringly, the number of occasions were officers discharge their weapons is incredibly low,” said Supt O’Neill.

Separate figures also show that there were 1,204 incidents where a Conductive Energy Device – such as a Taser – was used in Greater Manchester in the same time period.

Officers are entitled to use these less lethal devices in incidents that become violent but should be a last resort.

In order to prevent devices such as Taser from being used unnecessarily, officer must justify their usage after an incident.

Supt O’Neill said: “Our increased use of Taser is in line with our increase in violent incidents and, whilst this may seem high, all officers are required to justify their use of force and are subject to internal scrutiny as well as externally through independent scrutiny panels.”