A joint operation between police and Stockport Council has seen £11,000 of illegal vapes seized and five arrests made. 

Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Trading Standards seized vapes from four premises in the town centre. They were illegal for a number of reasons, including incorrect health information and tanks exceeding the maximum 2ml volume. 

The operation also saw the arrest of five people on suspicion of several offences, including possession of an offensive weapon, recall to prison, attempting to sell counterfeit goods and a previous assault on a police officer. 

The crackdown formed part of a day of action on 22 November, described as "a dedicated operation to tackle retail crime and ASB". 40 police officers were deployed on the day. 

Forty police officers were deployed in Edgeley and the town centre as part of the dedicated operation (Image - Alasdair Perry)

Sergeant James Senior, of the Stockport Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, emphasised how a police presence was important in and of itself, irrespective of whether there were any major incidents in the town centre. 

"When I meet with partners and shopkeepers, the main feedback is they want to see more police on the streets", he said.

"In response to that, our staff numbers have increased, and we are far more visible now, and that's what these days of action are all about."

Detective Inspector Michael Jimenez, of the Stockport Neighbourhood Crime Team, said that officers on the streets can also gather valuable information which can be used to build a 'bigger picture' of crime. 

He added: "There is a lot of development happening in Stockport and we need to be ready for that growth and be a couple of steps ahead, which is why we have a dedicated team for burglary, robbery, and vehicle theft.

"We want to make Stockport a fantastic place to live, visit and enjoy a night out, but we don't want people here who will create misery."

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