Two Fishwick men charged with firearm offences after organised crime bust

Two Fishwick men have been charged with firearm offences as part of Lancashire Police’s efforts to disrupt organised crime.

At 4pm on Wednesday 14 July officers stopped a vehicle in the Queens Road area of Cheetham Hill, Manchester, and three people were arrested on suspicion of firearm offences.

Further enquiries led to four people being arrested in the Fishwick and Deepdale areas of Preston later the same day, also on suspicion of firearm offences.

Following consultation from the Crown Prosecution Service, Mark Watkins, 53, and Richard Watkins, 27, both of Merrick Avenue, were charged with conspiring to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life/enable another to do so, and conspiring to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life/enable another to do so.

A further three people from Manchester were charged with the same offences.

All five appeared before Lancashire Magistrates Court on Saturday 17 July 17 and were remanded into custody.

The other two people arrested in Preston were released under investigation.

DI Fiona Jackson, of Lancashire Police, said: “Lancashire Police remain committed to tackling organised crime and we will continue to work with cross-border forces to achieve this.

“I would like to thank the communities in both Manchester and Preston for their patience and support during this investigation. I would like to re-iterate this was an isolated incident, however reassurance patrols will continue in the areas impacted.”

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