Greater Manchester 'has 176 gangs' - almost a quarter have access to guns

Police chiefs estimate 176 organised crime groups - OCGs - are currently operating across Greater Manchester, with almost a quarter of the gangs identified said to have access to guns. Drugs are said to remain the 'primary crime type' for the vast majority of the organised crime groups.

Of the 176, 55 active organised crime groups are said to be 'impacting the city of Manchester' - accounting for 31 per cent of all known OCGs in Greater Manchester. Oldham and Salford have the second highest number of organised crime groups, with 19 and 18 respectively, reveals a new report.

The data and details are contained in a new crime-busting strategy launched by Greater Manchester Police to tackle criminal gangs. Crime gangs in Greater Manchester, according to the strategy's report, are largely focused on firearms, money laundering, modern slavery and human trafficking, child sexual abuse and organised acquisitive crime.

Studies, say police, have also seen an increase in OCGs involved in organised 'acquisitive' crime, with seven per cent of all known gangs said to be involved in organised robbery, burglary or vehicle theft.

The report also reveals a 'steep increase' in the number of UK-born victims of modern slavery, which has correlated with the growing recognition of child exploitation as a form of modern slavery and human trafficking. "Criminal exploitation now accounts for the largest number of potential victims in Greater Manchester, followed by sexual exploitation," it says.

Figures show that since 2016, recorded modern slavery crimes in Greater Manchester have increased by a huge 69 per cent - from 137 to 554 in 2021. "Complex safeguarding teams across Greater Manchester are working with up to 550 children and young people