Metal detectorists help police in Manchester in their fight against knife crime as they scour public areas for weapons

• The force is appealing to more volunteers to take part in similar initiatives

It is sometimes viewed as the hobby of history buffs and archeologists.

But police in Manchester are now enlisting the help of metal detectorists in their fight against knife crime.

Last month two volunteer metal detectorists took part in a week-long operation with Greater Manchester Police where they scoured parks, grass verges, hedgerows and waste ground in Wigan for knives and other discarded weapons.

The metal detectorists uncovered several blades, a hammer and a BB gun, which will now be safely destroyed by officers.

Alan Mitchell, a police community support officer in Wigan, who is also a keen metal detectorist, took part in the sweep, known as Operation Sceptre.

Police in Manchester are now enlisting the help of metal detectorists in their fight against knife crime

Two volunteer metal detectorists took part in a week-long operation with Greater Manchester Police where they scoured parks, grass verges, hedgerows and waste ground in Wigan for knives and other discarded weapons last month

He said: ‘I’ve been metal detecting for a few years now and last September I came across a new role advertised for volunteer metal detectorists in GMP.

‘I thought it sounded interesting and offered to help manage the volunteers.. During Operation Sceptre in November, the volunteers joined me in Wigan carrying out knife sweeps in the local park areas.

‘Thanks to the work of the metal detectorists, we removed a number of potentially dangerous weapons from our streets safely. Without this intervention, it’s very possible these weapons may have been used with tragic consequences.’

The force is now appealing for more volunteer metal detectorists to contact them and take part in similar initiatives across other parts of Greater Manchester.

The project will help tackle knife crime. More than 3,000 offences were recorded in Greater Manchester relating to knife or sharp instruments ween June 2022 and July 2023

Superintendent Caroline Hemingway, GMP’s force lead for knife crime, said: ‘I’m delighted with this latest initiative which enlists the help of volunteer metal detectorists. We’ve long said that we need communities to come together to help tackle knife crime and this is a perfect example of that in action.

‘The seizures during Operation Sceptre show what can be achieved when we work together and I would welcome anyone who has an interest in volunteering their metal detecting skills to help police.’

Between June 2022 and July 2023, there were more than 3,000 knife or sharp instrument offences recorded in Greater Manchester.

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