Police officers have been active in parts of Bolton to reduce violence as part of an on-going operation.

At the weekend, officers were on patrol in Bolton town centre and in Great Lever working to reduce violence.

Many people and cards were stopped and searched along the process and officers worked to ensure the safety of the public.

A spokesman for the GMP force said: “This weekend the Bolton South neighbourhood team have been working with the violence reduction unit, in both the Town centre and Great Lever.

“Officers have been out in both plain clothes and on hi vis patrol.

“There have been a number of persons and vehicles stopped and searched throughout the weekend. Three vehicles were seized for various offences.

“This is all part of our commitment to the public to have officers present in our communities making the streets safer.”

Earlier this month, another special police operation to combat violent crime and serious criminality saw a reduction in knife crime.

The number of knife-related offences recorded by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) fell by 131 in the 12 months to December 2022 compared to the previous year.

Knife-related murders also fell by 18.75 per cent.

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Superintendent Caroline Hemingway, GMP’s lead for knife crime said: “Though GMP is evidently making progress in preventing and reducing this type of crime, there is still a long way to go and that’s exactly why Operation Venture was launched.