Pubs targeted in crackdown

ONE man is arrested and led away by officers

Police arrest seven in Operation Cinnamon
POLICE arrested seven people in a crackdown on violent crime in Royton and Shaw at the weekend.

The arrests were made in connection with drugs-related offences involving the class A drug cocaine and for public-order offences.

Operation Cinnamon saw 14 officers team up with licensing officers and a specially-trained sniffer dog, brought in from Merseyside, to crack down on drink-fuelled violence.

Pre-Christmas revellers in Royton and Shaw have historically drunk in local pubs before catching the train into Manchester to continue their celebrations.

But the closure of the railway line from Shaw to Manchester, in preparation for Metrolink, last year sparked an increase in violent crime.

Police visited a host of pubs and clubs during the five-hour operation on Saturday, sealing the front and rear entrances before entering with Barney the black Labrador, which is trained to sniff out a range of drugs from cocaine, diamorphines and amphetamines to cannabis and ecstasy.

The dog identified several people who were in possession of drugs, mainly cocaine. They were arrested and taken to Oldham police station for questioning.

Underage drinkers were also targeted in the operation.

Single arrests of people carrying drugs, with an odd arrest for public-order offences, were made at the majority of pubs visited.

PC Adam Murphy, community beat manager for Shaw, said the operation aimed to make the streets safe for people out to have a good time, and most respected it as such.

Sgt Trevor Harrison, who was in charge of the operation, added: “We are using early intervention tactics and it has been a successful night.

“We try to get in early and deal with any incidents to send out a clear message. It can soon turn into violent confrontation when people have too much to drink and mix it with drugs.”

Operation Cinnamon, which was launched six weeks ago and puts officers on town centre streets in the run-up to Christmas, involves Friday and Saturday night patrols, particularly in the Rochdale Road, Royton and Shaw’s Market Street areas.

The Royton and Shaw Neighbourhood Policing Team and the licensing officers from Oldham Council also checked that licensed premises were serving alcohol responsibly and licensing conditions were being followed.

Insp Karen Taylor added: “We launched the operation to reassure people they can come to the town to enjoy a safe night out, and also to encourage responsible drinking.

“We are also cracking down on underage drinking, which is very often the root of anti-social behaviour such as noise nuisance and vandalism which can make the lives of people living in the vicinity an absolute misery.”

She also warned that tough action would be taken against anyone caught selling alcohol to underage teenagers.

Saturday’s team continued their work in Oldham town centre, and a total of 11 arrests were made both there and in Royton and Shaw.

Five were arrested for drugs-related offences. All were cautioned after admitting carrying drugs, and four people received fixed-penalties for public-order offences.

One person was arrested in Oldham town centre for criminal damage, and another for assault. They were charged and released on bail.

Operation Cinnamon will continue into the New Year, not only in Royton and Shaw but in other parts of the borough.