A total of 50 wanted criminals have been brought into police custody as part of Operation Crossbow, with a particular focus on violence against women and girls.

On Monday 2 February, over 100 officers gathered at Cheshire Police Headquarters in Winsford to take part in Operation Crossbow.

Aiming to disrupt criminal activity across Cheshire and its borders, the collaborative effort was rolled out to target criminals who remained wanted and had yet to be brought into police custody.

As a particular focus for the force's first Crossbow operation for 2026, officers intensified their efforts in locating criminals who remained outstanding for offences including violence against women and girls (VAWG), domestic abuse and rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO).

Their efforts resulted in 50 outstanding criminals being arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including domestic abuse, stalking, harassment and criminal damage - as well as rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, child abduction and kidnap.

Officers also located a man who was wanted for breaching a court order hiding in a loft under installation.

A number of trading standard operations were conducted across Chester and Northwich, with considerable amounts of illegal tobacco and vapes seized by officers and their colleagues.

During the operation, Trading Standards colleagues also issued a court order to close a vape shop in the Chester area.

Officers also joined Cheshire West and Chester local authority and Wolverhampton Taxi Licensing Team for vehicle checks, with 12 taxis stopped and drivers given advice around identification lanyards, required notice stickers and the requirements of their taxi licence.

One driver was suspended and directed to stop operating due to having an expired plate on his vehicle.

Over the course of the day, a number of wanted criminals within Cheshire handed themselves into police.

Alongside the rounding up of wanted criminals, there were other operational activities that took place across the county as part of Operation Crossbow.

Officers were also deployed near the A556 and the M56 motorway, where they issued 11 traffic reports for speeding, two vehicles being seized for not having insurance and the arrest of two men suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Detective Superintendent Chris Williams, who oversaw the operation, said: "This operation, the first of five deployments for 2026, shows just a small snapshot of our officers' unwavering efforts in all areas in which we excel in day in, day out, and are part of our everyday policing tactics to continue to keep people safe and reduce crime.

"Whilst the proactive side of the operation has concluded for today, our officers will continue working into the night to complete all the necessary actions from what has been a very busy day for the Constabulary.

"With that in mind, I would like to thank all our officers, staff and community partners who played a role in today's operation. It is their professionalism and commitment to keeping our residents safe that have led to us securing such positive results."