Officers take part in force-wide operation protecting children and vulnerable people

Cheshire Constabulary has conducted a three-day operation aimed at protecting children and vulnerable people across the county.

Operation Guardians ran from Monday 19 May to Wednesday 21 May 2025, with hundreds of officers and staff members taking part, including from Local Policing and Beat Management Teams, PVP (Protecting Vulnerable People), OCAIT (Online Child Abuse Images Team) and SOMU (Sex Offender Management Unit), plus others.

The force-wide operation focused on safeguarding children in Cheshire who may be at risk of exploitation, engaging with schoolchildren and partners, and ensuring those who have committed offences against children and vulnerable people are complying with the conditions of their bail or Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.

There were high visibility patrols outside schools and plain clothes patrols in town centres throughout the days to tackle any anti-social behaviour while providing a reassuring policing presence. Schools and other partners were directly engaged with to ensure people knew to report any potential offences or concerns.

There were a number of warrants executed across the force, plus visits to addresses in partnership with the probation service to ensure suspects were adhering to the conditions they were subject to.

Operation Guardians also coincided with Sceptre, a national effort aiming to reduce the impact of knife crime in our communities. As part of this, officers conducted knife sweeps and set up amnesty bins to allow members of the public to safely dispose of knives or bladed articles.

Operation Guardians saw the following results:

• There were 18 arrests in total across the three-day operation, including for drug-related offences.
• Eight warrants were undertaken by OCAIT, resulting in six arrests.
• Officers conducted a number of visits to registered sex offenders to ensure they were complying with conditions, resulting in five arrests by SOMU.
• 30 plain clothes and high visibility patrols were conducted.
• There were 40 deployments to schools across the force, focusing on engagement about safety and knife-crime prevention.
• The Safety Bus was deployed in key areas.
• Six referrals were made for drug support following people found in possession of cannabis.
• Project Servator deployments were carried out in Chester, Warrington, and Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet.
• Officers conducted engagement visits to children’s care homes.
• 23 hotels were visited in relation to Operation Makesafe.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Williams, who co-ordinated the operation, said:

“I am incredibly proud of the success of Operation Guardians, which resulted in multiple arrests and engagement activities.

“This is an example of different departments force-wide working together to highlight the great work that Cheshire Constabulary does in protecting children and vulnerable people across the county.

“But it’s also important to stress that the activities which have been taking place across the past few days are part of our everyday policing tactics and ‘business as usual’ the whole year round.

“It’s vital that those who would harm children in Cheshire know that we will utilise all the tools at our disposal to safeguard young and vulnerable people and anyone who is found to have committed any offences will be caught and held accountable.”

Anyone who has information relating to child abuse and exploitation or has any concerns can call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or report information online via our website.

Information can also be provided anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on:

0800 555 111