18 arrested following Operation Crossbow deployment across north Cheshire
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Today, Monday 8 June, Cheshire Police has launched a proactive day of activity under Operation Crossbow, targeting a range of criminality and road safety issues across the north of the county.
In this, the force’s second Crossbow deployment for 2026, officers from across the northern areas of Cheshire (Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn) intensified their efforts to locate outstanding wanted criminals and disrupt criminality in our town centres and retail settings.
Officers from the Constabulary's Bike Units, who assisted with the operation, were also on hand to support the NPCC's Two-Wheels Week of Action, aiming to target anti-social and dangerous drivers’ intent on using illegal e-bikes, e-scooters and Sur-Rons.
The day began with an 8am briefing at the home of the Warrington Wolves rugby club, with more than 140 officers being joined by members of the Constabulary's senior command team and Members of Parliament, with rallying addresses delivered by Chief Constable Mark Roberts, Superintendent Sam Billington, Area Commander for North Cheshire, and Inspector Matt Lagar.
The teams then took to their vehicles and rolled out across the northern areas.
As part of the operation, officers made a total of 18 arrests for a variety of offences, including theft, criminal damage, DA assault, fraud, stalking, indecent exposure and possession of indecent images.
Arrests were also made for dangerous driving, drug driving, possession of cannabis and possession of a prohibited firearm. In addition, a number of individuals were detained for outstanding warrants and recalled to prison for breaching licence conditions.
Officers also carried out targeted road traffic enforcement, issuing 23 Traffic Offence Reports for offences such as driving without due care and attention, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt and driving without insurance.
During the operation, officers responded to members of the public in need, providing immediate assistance to an unconscious man and to a man who suffered a seizure following a road traffic collision.
Meanwhile, colleagues in Runcorn spotted a vulnerable man near the Silver Jubilee Bridge. Officers subsequently engaged with the 56-year-old and called ambulance colleagues, who promptly took him to hospital.
In the Bankside area of Warrington, officers were called to reports of shoplifting at a supermarket. Upon attendance, officers discovered that the 44-year-old suspect was also wanted in connection with exposure offences in the Greater Manchester area.
Officers in Widnes were conducting address checks for a wanted individual and located a large quantity of cannabis and other drug paraphernalia.
Neighbourhood and response officers also undertook over 100 visits to local retailers, providing crime prevention advice and distributing Operation Retail packs. These visits were well received, leading to positive engagement with businesses and strengthening local partnerships.
Superintendent Sam Billington, Area Commander for North Cheshire, said:
"Operation Crossbow is our opportunity to highlight to our partners and the residents of Warrington, Runcorn and Widnes the efforts put in by our officers 365 days a year to keep them safe and make the area a hostile environment for criminality.
"This day of intensified action saw officers of various ranks, departments and expertise come together with a common goal in mind: to bring in wanted criminals who are bold enough to think they can get away with escaping justice.
"What was also amazing to see was some of our newest recruits within the Constabulary throwing themselves into the deep end and helping out with one of the biggest proactive operations conducted in the north. It was the combined efforts of all those involved that resulted in a total of 18 people, a mixture of wanted criminals and those identified by our eagle-eyed officers on deployment, being brought into our custody.
"On top of this, due to the outstanding proactive police work and considerable pressure applied by our officers deployed across the county, we also saw a number of wanted individuals actively choose to hand themselves in at several of our help desks.
"This operation, the second of five Crossbow deployments for 2026, shows just a small snapshot of our officers' steadfast approach in all areas of neighbourhood policing and is part of the everyday tactics we use to keep people safe and reduce crime.
"Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our policing colleagues and staff members who played an active role in the operation, the cross-party support of our local Members of Parliament and a special thanks to our long-term community partners the Warrington Wolves for allowing us to hold our briefing at the Halliwell Jones.
"While the proactive side of the operation has now concluded for the day, our officers and staff members will be working into the night to ensure everyone who has passed through our doors will be processed and all necessary post-operation actions are completed to standard.”