OLDHAM College hosted a high-profile event highlighting Greater Manchester Police’s new initiative – codenamed Operation Avro – as part of a borough-wide day of action.
This saw around 200 officers cracking down on local crime by executing drug warrants, surveillance, compliance checks and more.
It saw a total of 49 arrests made for offences including burglary, supplying drugs, money laundering and domestic abuse on February 23, and included a series visits to help shape policing priorities by hearing what local people think about the daily crime issues they face.
A visiting party including GM Chief Constable Stephen Watson and Oldham Council Leader Amanda Chadderton came to see a 15-minute performance by our Performing Arts learners. This hard-hitting piece was developed as part of our work on the Safer Streets scheme and focusses on how women and young girls can be made to feel on public transport by unacceptable behaviours.
There was also a Q&A session with students and performers involved in the project, plus 40 learners currently studying Law or Uniformed Public Services at Oldham College.
Oldham’s Chief Superintendent Chris Bowen (pictured, right) said on an GMP Instagram update that the drama was “powerful” and “a very moving experience as they (learners) told us how it felt to be a young person in Oldham today.”
“We will take that feedback with us on the journey as I work to make Oldham the safest place to live, work and visit in Greater Manchester.”
Rebecca Hirst, Oldham College’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, said: “This was a great event with another amazing learners’ performance. We also had some really productive conversations about social change and education with the main theme being that it is the younger generation who have the power to make the key changes in behaviours that are needed.”
MORE | You can find out more about the Operation Avro Day of Action via this link
