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Keep your eyes and ears open

28/12/2001

PEOPLE in Middleton and North Manchester are urged to keep their eyes and ears open over the festive season and help keep Manchester a safe place.

Anti-terrorism posters have already gone up around the city centre and the community of Greater Manchester is now urged to be extra vigilant.

There is no specific threat to the city, but Greater Manchester Police said it was conscious of the fact that Manchester has been a target in the past and fear of terrorism is at a peak.

Extra security measures will be taken to protect the city during the festive period and offer tangible reassurance to the public.

Operation Reassure includes measures such as high profile policing on the streets; covert patrols; random checking of key locations and random car searches around Greater Manchester. The Firearms Unit will also patrol the city centre on foot in addition to normal duties.

Assistant Chief Constable Med Hughes said: "There has been no specific threats made against Manchester, but we cannot afford to become complacent.

"The public can help us to protect the community by looking out for suspicious packages or bags and reporting them to the police.

"In addition, I hope that these extra policing measures will help to reassure the public about our determination to protect Greater Manchester from potential threats."