Stockport supports ‘Safer Streets Summer Initiative’

Stockport Council and other partners in the borough have joined in the launch of the ‘Safer Streets Summer Initiative’ aimed at reducing crime in town centres and communities.

The initiative – known locally as Safe4Summer – is part of the Government’s mission to restore and strengthen local policing in communities and reduce or prevent anti-social behaviour (ASB). As part of the campaign, there will be a greater visibility of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers and partners, including local authorities and TfGM, across crime hot spot areas.

Cllr Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Public Protection at Stockport Council, explained:

“We all want to feel safe while living, working and shopping in Stockport.

“The Safe4Summer campaign will help to do just that. There will be more high-visibility patrols to clamp down on retail and street crime, including shoplifting, as well as teams across the Council and partners working together to target anti-social behaviour.

“Making sure that our streets and town centre are safe and welcoming for all of us is a key priority for the Council and our One Stockport Safety Partnership.”

The Safer Streets initiative sits alongside strengthening of GMP’s neighbourhood offer in Stockport in April 2025 and its 2023 commitment for each district ward across the city-region to have a named local police officer.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle, GMP’s lead for Local Policing, said:

“Over the summer months, [GMP officers] will be focusing on increasing engagement with our communities to listen and respond to their concerns. Residents and business owners will also see an increase in the visibility of officers and partners, as we work together to ensure a safe summer for all. This isn’t about trying to spoil people’s fun over the summer months, it is making sure everyone can enjoy themselves without feeling unsafe or being hurt.

“We welcome the Home Office initiative, which perfectly aligns to the neighbourhood policing model our force implemented locally two years ago. Safe4Summer is the perfect opportunity to highlight the strength of our partnerships in Greater Manchester, and our determination to minimise crime and disorder and to ensure Greater Manchester is a safer and more desirable place for all.”

TravelSafe Partnership Manager at Transport for Greater Manchester, Kate Green, said:

“While the vast majority of people using the Bee Network do so safely and responsibly, we know that crime and anti-social behaviour increases over school holidays, and that is not something we will tolerate.

“We work hard every day to keep people safe, whether that’s through our engagement programme or the many proactive operations that take place. We will have an increased presence across the Bee Network to prevent and deter incidents, helping people to travel and enjoy their summer safely and with confidence.”