From the Police:

Police have begun operations across Greater Manchester to keep people safe and secure during the festive period.

Under the banner of Advent, officers are running high-visibility patrols in town centres to reassure the public, and maintaining radio contact with retailers and CCTV operators to help prevent shoplifting and pickpocketing.

Purse bells are being handed out to shoppers to keep thieves at bay, and police are also maintaining a strong presence around car parks to help prevent items being stolen from vehicles.

To combat underage sales of alcohol, officers are visiting licensed premises with council officials, and venues are being encouraged to serve drink responsibly as part of GMP’s Think Safe Drink Safe campaign.

On busy nights, such as Mad Friday, barriers will be used in some town centres to control access to certain streets, and police will intervene early where there is trouble to stop it from escalating. They will also work closely with door staff to create a safe environment, and ‘direction to leave’ notices will be issued to those whose presence in an area is likely to cause disorder. In addition, officers will check private hire vehicles to ensure they are not bogus, as drunken revellers can be vulnerable on their way home after a night out.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said: “Town centres are popular at this time of year due to the concentration of shops, bars and clubs, and we have been preparing thoroughly for the festive period.  The success of operations like this comes down to working effectively with partners and always intervening at the earliest sign of trouble, and our officers will act quickly and robustly to deal with any incidents that threaten public safety.”

People visiting town centres over Christmas are urged to park in secure and well-lit areas, not to decorate their vehicles with gifts, and to always lock the car when leaving it unattended.

Shoppers are reminded to be aware of their surroundings when out and about, and to keep wallets and other valuables out of sight in an inside zipped or buttoned pocket. Handbags should be fastened and carried with the strap across the body rather than over the shoulder, and if you are using a cash point, cover your PIN with your hand and look out for people loitering near the machine.

Police are also advising revellers to be mindful of the dangers of excessive drinking as part of GMP’s Think Safe Drink Safe campaign.

Assistant Chief Constable Heywood added: “We don’t want to stop people from having a good time in the run up to Christmas, but it’s important to remember the dangers that irresponsible drinking can lead to.  To help people have a safe and enjoyable time, we recommend they pace their drinks by mixing them with non-alcoholic rounds and stick with friends throughout the night.  It is also important to take a taxi home that you can trust, so always pre-book with a reputable private hire firm.”

This year police are being helped by children from St Edmund’s RC Primary School in Miles Platting, who are taking part in a Child’s Play-themed advent calendar to show that staying safe this Christmas is as easy as mince pie.

People can visit gmp.police.uk to check out the daily videos giving seasonal crime prevention advice, or follow #gmpadvent on Twitter for the latest police activity over the Christmas period.