HUGE RISE IN STABBINGS
PARAMEDICS CALLED TO HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS IN CITY AS DATA SHOWS 40PC INCREASE
PARAMEDICS are dealing with at least one stabbing in Manchester every day, the M.E.N. can reveal.
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show the North West Ambulance Service was called out to 432 stabbings in Manchester postcodes last year.
That is a 40 per cent increase on 2016 when there were 308 incidents.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the overall pattern of crime reducing earlier this year, 2020 is on course for similar figures.
There have been 375 stabbings in Manchester between January and October, the figures show.
It should be acknowledged that the NWAS figures will also include incidents where stab wounds were self-inflicted, although this is only likely to account for a small percentage.
The M.E.N.’s data gives an indication of which parts of the borough of Manchester are experiencing the most knife crime – an area that has come under increasing focus for Greater Manchester Police in recent years.
Last year, GMP was among 18 forces given extra funding by the Home Office to combat violent crime in response to rising figures.
The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) was established and the M.E.N. reported earlier this year how Supt Chris Downey is leading a complex and wide-ranging operation.
It includes a pilot scheme in Tameside and Bury to review every crime involving young people in a bid to improve intelligence and look at what ‘intervention’ might steer them down the right path.
The unit is also carrying out highvisibility patrols, regular weapons sweeps, arresting problem offenders and attempting to intercept weapons being purchased online.
However, as the M.E.N.’s figures show, the toughest division for GMP to tackle will be the city of Manchester, where a number of areas are frequently experiencing violent incidents.
The Manchester postcodes with the largest number of stabbings in 2019 were M1, M2 and M3, covering the city centre, M14 covering Fallowfield, Ladybarn, Longsight, Moss Side and Rusholme, M9 covering Harpurhey and Blackley, M40 covering Collyhurst, Moston and Miles Platting, and M22 covering the east side of Wythenshawe.
The pattern was similar between 2016-18, although there was also a high number of incidents in M16, covering Moss Side and Whalley Range, and M8 covering Crumpsall and Cheetham Hill.
2020 looks set for more of the same with the highest numbers in the same postcodes.
The areas with the fewest stabbings are all in south Manchester.
M21 covering Chorlton and M23 covering the west side of Wythenshawe are particularly quiet, with only six and seven incidents respectively last year.
Other areas with relatively low numbers are M15 covering Hulme and M13 and M12 covering Ardwick and Longsight.
Overall, the data shows a steady increase in stabbings in Manchester postcodes since 2016.