Gangs Linked To Manchester Police Killer Taken Apart

9 July 2013, 09:43 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Police say they're making it virtually impossible for East Manchester's criminal gangs to operate, following the conviction of police killer Dale Cregan.

The 30-year-old was jailed for life in June for four murders, including those of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes in Mottram last September.

Since their deaths Greater Manchester Police say they've arrested more than 300 people and seized more than £300 000 in drugs.

The team investigating organised crime linked to Cregan and the rival Short family originally went after 28 people.

GMP say all but a handful of those have either been arrested, charged or are on bail.

Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said: "The investigation into the murders of Fiona, Nicola and the Short family revealed a far-reaching web of organised criminality and extreme violence which had to be tackled.

"The historic rivalry between criminal factions fighting over reputation and territory and creating alternative systems of justice was the spark that led to the tragic events we saw last year.

"Over the past few years, we have made huge strides towards tackling organised crime. Millions of pounds worth of drugs have been seized and more than 1,500 years of jail time handed out to offenders.

"However, we know there are still criminal networks causing misery to certain communities so Operation Challenger seeks to build on our successes and permanently tackle these organised crime groups."