Is this the end of Gunchester?

The Manchester Evening News reports a significant drop in violent crime! This was the focus of our National Prayer event held in Manchester in June 08. Read the newspaper article below. To find out about Redeeming Our Communities National initiative visit the web site.

Pastor Edmund and Debra Photos Andy H Photos CC Matt Baggott

PHOTOS FROM JUNE 3rd EVENT

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE:

David Ottewell
Manchester Evening News Headlines 29/ 1/2009

MANCHESTER is on the brink of shedding its 'Gunchester' image for good after the astonishing success of a crackdown on the city's gangs.

Only THREE shots were fired by gangsters between Valentine's Day in February and December 31 last year compared to more than 10 times as many in 2007.

It is the first time since the height of Manchester's bloody street warfare in the early 1990s that entire months have passed in places like Moss Side without the sound of gunfire.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will today travel to Manchester to hail the city's progress as an example to the rest of Britain - and pledge extra cash so the work can continue.

It comes exactly a year since the last fatal gang-related shooting in Greater Manchester - which prompted police to launch the crackdown, called Operation Cougar.

The total number of gunshots in the Metropolitan and Trafford divisions - the heart of gangland - fell from 62 in Feb-Dec 2007 to 19 in Feb-Dec 2008. The number that were gang-related dropped from 38 to three. " MEN 29-01-09