Following three fatal stabbings in Greater Manchester on three consecutive weekends (22/01/22, 30/01/22, 04/02/22) and other recent incidents of violent crime, Greater Manchester Police has stepped up Operation Sycamore – dedicated to fighting, preventing and reducing knife crime.
GMP Gold Commander Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said: “Keeping people safe is a top priority, especially given the recent incidents which have been a tragic reminder of the threat, harm and risk that knives and other weapons pose.
“This weekend, members of the public can expect to see extra uniformed officers in communities across Greater Manchester, which have been identified as hotspots. These officers will focus on engaging with young people; challenging and responding to anti-social behaviour/ crime and exercising their stop and search powers if and when necessary.
“I would like to use this opportunity to remind people about our Forever Amnesty bins which are located at 13 police stations across Greater Manchester. Knives can be put in these bins with no questions asked. If you carry a weapon, my plea is that you surrender it this weekend. If you know or suspect someone else does, that you report it immediately.”
A 16-year-old boy who died after he was stabbed in Stretford last night (January 23) has been named locally as Kennie Carter.
Close family friend Beckiee Carol-Jadee McCabe, said: “I grew up with his family, my family are very close with his, they are like family to me.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken.
“That such a beautiful young soul has been taken far too soon at the age 16, he was such a quiet boy growing up wouldn’t do any harm to no one.
“Loved by so many people It’s so devastating that he’s had to loose his life, because of knife crime, He’s going to be deeply missed by all that knew Kennie.
A woman who lives locally told the Manchester Evening News that Kennie was a friend of her son.
She said: “He was just a lovely boy. “He didn’t cause problems or harm to anybody.
“He was funny, he made everyone laugh and had a cheeky smile.”
She added: “A group of lads keep coming down and bullying the lads round here and the kids here aren’t like that at all.
Police statement
Kennie died in hospital on Saturday 22 January after suffering a fatal wound to the chest following a stabbing in Stretford.
Yesterday morning (Friday 11 February) a 13-year-old boy was arrested in the Hulme area on suspicion of murder. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.
Eight teenagers – aged between 13 and 17 – have already been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain on bail with conditions.
Three other teenage boys who were arrested have since been eliminated from the inquiry.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for information and are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have been driving along Moss Road, Thirlmere Road and Victoria Road between 6 and 7pm on 22 January.
We would urge anyone who may have been in that location to check their dash-cam footage and get in touch.
Any footage or images from the night should be submitted to our online portal here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP22S43-PO1
As part of our #ForeverAmnesty campaign to ‘bin the knife’ we remind the public that there is at least one amnesty bin at a police station in each Greater Manchester district.
We appeal for people to do the right thing, look out for each other and bin the knife; you won’t be judged but you might just safe a life.
GMP confirmed that the Major Incident Team has spoken to over 50 people, compiled more than 100 hours of CCTV and carried out almost a dozen warrants.
