An under-18s event in Manchester city centre was shut down by police after teenagers were found with knives, leading to the arrest of two 17-year-old boys.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were patrolling when they became aware of the event at Manchester Lounge on Withy Grove at around 7pm on Thursday (October 29). Due to safety concerns including capacity issues and underage drinking in the surrounding area, officers and fire crews closed the event down.
Section 60 powers authorised and arrests made
Section 60 powers were authorised, giving officers the power to carry out stop searches on people leaving the venue. A 17-year-old boy was arrested after being found in possession of a knife. Officers then found three more knives hidden nearby, and CCTV enquiries led to a second 17-year-old boy being arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article.
The venue hosting the event has been visited by licensing officers today (30 October) and issued with a closure order while further enquiries are carried out.
Police statement on knife crime
Chief Inspector Michael Tachauer from GMP's City Centre Neighbourhood Team said: "Knife crime has no place in Manchester city centre or anywhere in Greater Manchester, and we will never tolerate it.
"These arrests and seizures are an example of proactive neighbourhood policing at its best. Officers identified an underage event, closed it down and quickly put a Section 60 in place, resulting in weapons being recovered and arrests being made.
"I would urge anyone considering carrying a knife to think again. Choosing not to carry a knife is one of the bravest and most important decisions a young person can make. Once a knife is picked up and used, lives can be changed forever, and nobody wins.
"Thanks to the continued efforts of our neighbourhood teams, knife crime in the city centre has reduced. However, when we see signs of increased risk, we act swiftly and robustly to protect our communities. Anyone found carrying a knife can expect to be arrested and prosecuted.
"Ahead of a busy weekend, officers across the city centre have been briefed and will be out proactively targeting those involved in criminality and keeping people safe. We are committed to making Manchester city centre a safe place to live, work and visit, and we will continue to take decisive action against anyone who threatens that safety."
Reduction in knife crime statistics
In the past 12 months, Manchester city centre has seen a 17% decrease in knife-related incidents and a 20% reduction in offences committed against people under the age of 18, the force said. In the city centre alone, GMP have conducted over 10,300 stop searches leading to over 980 arrests, and as a result of these arrests 53 knives have been seized.
