Operation Marshall – reducing risk and criminality associated with vehicle related anti-social behaviour (ASB)

The aims of Operation Marshall are to:

• prevent incidents of vehicle-related anti-social behaviour (ASB)
• encourage road safety and deter nuisance caused by vehicle gatherings
• promote community confidence through visible action and regular engagement
• collect intelligence on repeat offenders and organisers of vehicle gatherings
• introduce sustainable environmental and partnership approach solutions to prevent recurrence

The intended outcomes of Operation Marshall are to:

• reduce the number of vehicle-related ASB and dangerous driving incidents
• increase police visibility during periods of peak demand
• improve community confidence and satisfaction
• strengthen partnership between the police, council and landowners
• reduce opportunities for future gatherings through environmental design measures

Operation Marshall was developed following concerns raised by residents during a police and communities together (PACT) meeting in December 2025 regarding persistent vehicle-related ASB. Residents reported ongoing nuisance, excessive noise, road safety concerns, and dissatisfaction with previous attempts to address the problem. Local businesses were also affected by recurring vehicle gatherings and the associated disorder.

Operation Marshall was planned and implemented by the special constabulary. Instead of focusing solely on enforcement, the initiative adopted a structured problem-oriented policing approach supported by neighbourhood officers, police community support officers (PCSO), traffic police community support officers (TPCSO) and road policing unit resources. 

Planning process

The planning process included:

• community engagement
• neighbourhood patrol observations
• gathering intelligence 
• conducting an environmental assessment

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) conducted a review that identified key hot spots for vehicle gatherings and found that Thursday evenings were the peak period for vehicle-related ASB.

A special constabulary deployment plan was subsequently developed, with dedicated patrols operating primarily on Thursday evenings and additional deployments at weekends, when demand is typically higher.

Operation Marshall has been supported by the following teams and partner organisations: 

• Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council community safety unit
• prevention hub
• crime prevention team 
• local landowners 
• local councillors 

Implementation

GMP and the partner organisations introduced preventative measures including:

• temporary CCTV coverage
• section 59 warning signage
• increased private security patrols
• plans for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) supported site management

Bailiffs have also been placed on standby to assist with potential civil trespass issues.

High-visibility patrols have been used to reassure the community, engage with those attending the gatherings, and gather intelligence. Officers have conducted proactive vehicle stops, recorded driver details, and issued multiple section 59 warnings to drivers and vehicles used in an anti-social manner. Intelligence gathered throughout the operation has led to the identification of an organiser, who was subsequently issued with a section 59 warning.

As part of Operation Marshall, the following community engagement activities have been undertaken:

• PCSOs carry out door-to-door engagement with residents to discuss concerns and gather intelligence 
• PACT meetings held to ensure the public are familiar with their PCSOs and provide initiative updates 
• ongoing contact with local businesses and councillors

The community engagement activities ensure that local concerns remain at the centre of the operation and reassure the public.

Operation Marshall has been delivered using existing special constabulary and neighbourhood policing resources.

Since the implementation of Operation Marshall, GMP have observed a reduction in vehicle-related ASB, improved intelligence reporting and increased police visibility within the affected area. Residents have reported greater confidence in the local policing response and increased reassurance as a result of regular communication and visible patrol activity.

A key outcome has been the successful development of a multi-agency response involving the police, local authority, landowners, and community partners. This has enabled the implementation of both enforcement and prevention measures, including CCTV, warning signage, security patrols, and planned ANPR capability.

While some displacement of vehicle-related ASB has been observed, overall activity levels have reduced and partners now have a clearer understanding of the problem and a coordinated framework for responding to it.

Operation Marshall has demonstrated the valuable contribution of the special constabulary to neighbourhood policing. Through consistent deployment and long-term ownership of the problem, special constables, PCSOs, and TPCSOs have delivered a problem-solving initiative and generated tangible benefits for the local community.

• Operation Marshall has demonstrated that effective problem solving requires more than enforcement alone. While section 59 warnings and high-visibility patrols are important, the most sustainable improvements were achieved through environmental design changes, community engagement and partnership working.
• The PCSOs and TPCSOs have been vital to identifying local problems, conducting analysis, coordinating partners and managing deployments. By having consistent special constabulary involvement, this has created continuity, improved local knowledge and developed strong relationships with residents and partner agencies.
• Community engagement has proved to be critical to the success of Operation Marshall. Residents initially felt that concerns had not been adequately addressed, and regular communication helped rebuild trust and improve confidence in policing. Listening to community concerns and providing visible feedback on action taken increased support for the operation and improved intelligence gathering.
• For organisations seeking to implement a similar initiative, the key recommendation is to combine intelligence-led enforcement with environmental prevention measures, involve partners early and maintain strong community engagement throughout.