Robberies operation cracks down on street attacks in Bolton and beyond

A POLICE operation to tackle robberies has seen 38 offenders convicted over the past year.

Operation Valiant has concentrated on personal attacks and offers advice on how people can stay safe on the streets.

The initiative was first rolled out last year, in between the coronavirus lockdowns.

But the project has gathered pace in the two months since Covid restrictions were relaxed.

Bolton has seen its own robbery menaces put behind bars during this time.

Teenager Oliver Khosravi led a gang of youths staging a series of violent knifepoint robberies around the town centre and Middlebrook shopping centre.

Khosravi was jailed for nine years after a judge ruled he was a serious danger to the public.

He carried out three street robberies initially and after being given bail by police then went out to commit a fourth attack.

Operation Valiant victories have seen similar offenders imprisoned.

Police say a man was jailed for two years in February after he tried to stab a 17-year-old boy at a tram stop.

In May a 19-year-old was also sentenced to 20 months for three robberies on students. A 21-year-old man was also given 42 months in prison for a knifepoint robbery on a student in Manchester city centre.

Detectives say a key tool in their arsenal has been criminal behaviour orders (CBOs). These orders can exclude louts from designated areas. Thirty-eight such orders have been issued by the Valiant team since 2018.

Supt Chris Hill, the force’s lead for robbery, said: “We saw a reduction in personal robberies in the city centre and across town centres in Greater Manchester due to Covid restrictions resulting in people staying at home where possible and retail stores and hospitality venues closing. As these restrictions have gradually been eased over the last few months, the Operation Valiant team has been proactive in ensuring people are kept safe when out and about."

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