It is a corner of Salford where a no-grass culture has held firm in the past. But a crackdown on criminality is making progress. Two shootings were the catalyst for an operation to dismantle organised crime groups operating in the Little Hulton area. As well as firearms incidents, Ellesmere Shopping Centre has been a target for thefts, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour, Greater Manchester Police say. Buses have been vandalised and yobs on off-road bikes and e-scooters – often wearing balaclavas – have caused disruption and fear among the community. Police believe 15 to 20 individuals are members of several organised crime groups (OCGs) in the area. Launched in January, after months of intelligence gathering in 2024, Operation Broadway also involves Salford council’s Safeguarding Team and housing associations, working with police to tackle the ‘exploitation of the vulnerable’ by criminals and to steer young people away from being associated with OCGs. Six months in it has resulted in 67 arrests and 121 stop-searches in the first quarter of this year. The arrests have been for suspected offences including drugs possession and dealing, firearms offences, theft, assault, burglary, anti-social behaviour. Many of these arrests have resulted in the charges and punishments. In addition, more than 100 weapons have been recovered through a mixture of amnesties and proactive searches 鈥 recovering everything from imitation firearms to illegal blades. Cash has been seized, hundreds of cannabis plants recovered and destroyed, and police say “multiple children who were at threat of exploitation given the appropriate safeguards.” In an interview with the Manchester Evening News in February, Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Humphreys, said of the operation: “The December shooting was the tipping point for us. We decided we needed to do something to focus on Little Hulton. The difficulty in Salford is people sometimes feel they can’t speak to the police – that culture of not grassing. “We have got a Crimestoppers initiative running to really try and drive the community to tell us what is happening – whether that be anti-social behaviour all the way up to organised crime, to help build an intelligence picture so we can take action.” His colleague, Detective Inspector Rebecca McGuigan, from GMP’s Challenger Team, said today: 鈥淭he work being done in Little Hulton has seen multiple arrests, resulting in charges for offences ranging from drugs to weapons. 鈥淲orking closely with our partners in the community, we have been able to ensure repeat offenders are closely monitored by everyone from housing to local PCSOs, meaning they can receive the appropriate warning, notice, or punishment.鈥 Sergeant Helen Matthews, from the local neighbourhood team, said: 鈥淭he local Little Hulton neighbourhood team have continued to support and provide numerous officers for the ongoing operation in the area, conducting patrols, warrants, and more as we work towards ridding the streets of violent crime and the nuisance anti social behaviour that can come from it. 鈥淣eighbourhood officers are regularly on patrol and we will always keep an eye out for areas flagged with us by members of the community. If you have had any issues with somewhere in particular 鈥 whether that be an address, street, or area 鈥 please do get in touch with us. 鈥淎ll of the community’s intelligence and tip-offs greatly enhances our ability to know who is causing problems and where 鈥 and subsequently means we can crack down with the relevant punishments.鈥 DCI Humphreys added: “A housing organisation worked closely with us so we were able to get enough evidence for a closure order on a property that was causing us issues. They are also ensuring that if properties become empty the right kind of people who will help build a stable community move in.” The most recent shooting was in December. Police believe two suspects on two motorbikes carried out a gun attack on a home in Ellesmere Close off Queen Street. Three shots were fired, leaving two bullet holes in a window and one in the frame beneath. The December 27 attack is still under investigation. The first shooting was in May last year. At Manchester Crown Court , three men were jailed for involvement in that incident