Police increase stop and search powers in Rusholme after spate of violent moped robberies

Police have announced they will be increasing stop and search powers in Rusholme following a number of violent moped robberies.

Greater Manchester Police have been authorised to carry out increased stop searches from 6pm this evening (30 April 2023) until 6am tomorrow morning (Monday 1 May 2023), in a bid to prevent violence. Under Section 60, officers can stop search anyone in a defined area at a specific time.

Officers have warned that anyone carrying ‘dangerous instruments or offensive weapons’ will be prosecuted. This follows multiple incidents reported to police involving violent robberies of delivery drivers on mopeds in the area over the past couple of days.

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Superintendent Muzemil Kernain, of GMPs City of Manchester district, said: "We've made the decision to authorise Section 60 powers to prevent violence and keep people safe.

“Violence is completely unacceptable and will simply not be tolerated and I hope that by bringing in these preventative measures it will clearly demonstrate to the community that we are committed to tackling this type of reckless crime.

"Alongside increased stop searches, we have deployed extra uniformed officers who will be proactively patrolling hotspot areas.”

On Saturday (April 29) officers in Rusholme arrested three teenage boys between the ages of 16 and 17 on suspicion of robbery. They remain in custody for questioning.

A GMP spokesperson previously said: “Officers believe that a group of teenage boys have been targeting delivery riders whilst they were delivering food by assaulting them, knocking them off their bikes before stealing the mopeds.”

Officers on patrol became aware of the incident and were able to