Officers are appealing for information after a teenager was robbed on Monday 15 February 2021 in the Arndale Shopping Centre in Manchester City Centre.

At around 5.10pm, two male offenders threatened a young male and demanded he hand over his coat close to the Withy Grove entrance/exit door.

During the robbery the victim – the teenager – was punched in the face.

The offenders fled on foot in the direction of Withy Grove but were unsuccessful in their attempt to steal any items.

They are described as two white males, aged between 13 and 18 years old, of slim build, wearing dark tracksuit bottoms and coats.

Anyone who has any information about the robbery should call police on 0161 856 6059 quoting incident number 2466 of 15/02/21.

Details can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Last year, the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Economic Crime Unit recovered over £3 million for victims of fraud.

The unit focusses on getting money back for victims where they can, as well as working to educate the public on the latest scams, what to look out for and how to protect themselves and their hard earned money.

Towards the beginning of last year, when the pandemic began, the team saw a rise in scams relating to the coronavirus so worked to put out warnings on their dedicated Twitter account, as well as using posters to signpost people to information. The hub also worked with local supermarkets who were offering a delivery service to the most vulnerable, to include an information pack produced by GMP’s Economic Crime and Cyber Unit, in customer's deliveries.

The hub also includes a volunteer team – the Scambusters, who offer peer-to-peer support to those who have been a victim of fraud by giving practical help and advice to prevent them falling victim again. The team would ordinarily be based at Nexus House in Ashton-under-Lyne however, when the coronavirus restrictions were introduced, asking people to stay at home as much as possible, five of the volunteer Scambusters continued their important work by carrying out their duties from home. This resulted in 2,500 calls being made in 2020 to vulnerable members of the community and support being offered.

Detective Superintendent Estelle Mathieson, Head of GMP’s Economic Crime and Cyber Unit, said:

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"The primary aim of the Economic Crime and Cyber Unit is to ensure that the public are informed of and protected against fraud and cybercrime, and this year the unit has adapted to fraudsters taking advantage of the vulnerability the pandemic has brought and ensured that information got out to the public quickly.

"Fraud has a lasting impact on victims – it leaves them out of pocket and can take an emotional toll. The unit works to support those victims in not only recovering funds, but also giving them the tools to avoid becoming victim again in the future.

"I would continue to encourage people to follow the advice posted on our @gmpfraud Twitter account, and if you do suspect you have been a victim of fraud report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.”

 

One of the victims the team has supported was a couple from Wales who were targeted by a fraudster thought to be living in Manchester. The couple were scammed out of their £170,000 life savings, when they responded to an email claiming to have come from their investment company asking for payment. They transferred the money however; the email had actually come from a fraudster who had changed the bank details to their own.  They reported the incident, known as mandate fraud, to Action Fraud and it was passed to the GMP Economic Crime Hub, who worked with the bank to have the couples account frozen and the full amount of money recovered.The couple, who wish to stay unnamed, said:

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"We would like to thank GMP for their hard work getting our money back and the advice they gave us.

"Words can't explain how grateful we are and feel very lucky to have received all our money back in full."

 

Since 1 October 2020, Greater Manchester Police have seized over 20 electric scooters as part of a crackdown on their illegal use on roads, pavements, cycle lanes and other public places.

Despite the increased popularity in the use of e-scooters, GMP officers are reminding people that current laws only allow for them to be ridden on private land with the owner's permission. E-scooters used in public places can be seized by police, and riders may be prosecuted for operating a vehicle without insurance.

There is currently a trial ongoing in Salford in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the University of Salford for the use of e-scooters. This allows for the legal use of Lime e-scooters in the designated trial area only.Inspector Steve Bryant, from GMP's Safer Transport Team, said:

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"We want to ensure that people have the right information when it comes to e-scooters, particularly as many may buy or receive them for Christmas. We are aware that not all sellers make the regulations clear at the point of sale; therefore we will continue to raise awareness so that hard working people do not waste their money on something they cannot currently use.

"To ensure everyone is kept safe on our roads, our officers will be seizing e-scooters used illegally."

 

Ian Hopkins, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police has quit this afternoon, just days after the publication of a damning report into failures in crime reporting within the constabulary which have now lead to intervention and special measures being imposed.

Mr Hopkins has been on medical leave due to suffering from labyrinthitis - an inner-ear infection which affects your balance - since the end of October.

In a statement Mr Hopkins said:

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These are challenging times for Greater Manchester Police. The force has a long-term strategic plan to address the issues raised by the HMIC and I believe this plan should be led by a Chief Constable who can oversee it from start to finish.

Considering what is best for GMP and the communities we serve, and given my current ill health, I have decided to stand down from the post of Chief Constable with immediate effect.

It has been an honour to serve the public for 32 years, nearly 13 of which as a Chief Officer in GMP. Throughout my career I have been committed to achieving the best outcomes for the people I serve. The decision to stand down is not one I have taken lightly but I feel the time is right.

I was due to retire in autumn 2021 and bringing that date forward assists in the timely recruitment of my successor.

I would like to pay tribute to my colleagues and the many dedicated officers and staff I have had the privilege of working with throughout my service.

 

ACC Ian Pilling will not take his place as acting police constable with immediate effect.

Greater Manchester's Metro Mayor, Andy Burnham said that he must hold Mr Hopkins to account, adding:

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For a number of years, GMP has been found by the inspectorate to be in need of improvement in these important areas.

This latest report, carried out in September, and based of force data between April and June this year revealed a unacceptable lack of progress.

 

Meanwhile the Mayor has also come under criticism over his handling of the situation with MP for Bolton, Chris Green, calling him to immediately resign, stating that in his position Mr Burnham has ultimate authority over policing in Greater Manchester and is absolute responsible for its failures.

The force will now enter into the ‘national oversight process’ after inspectors found failures around crime recording and the protection of vulnerable people across the Greater Manchester region..

The health secretary dashed any hopes of a tier reduction for Salford this morning after opting to keep Greater Manchester firmly within Tier 3 restrictions.

Earlier this week, NHS chiefs urged the government not to drop parts of the country already in Tier 3 to Tier 2, even as infection rates dropped in some areas.

Greater Manchester Metro Mayor, Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that there was a clear case for restrictions to be lowered across the region, however, the health secretary and government have disagreed as rates have started to rise once more in some areas.

Whilst addressing parliament this morning, Mr Hancock confirmed that Greater Manchester would remain in Tier 3, with the only places set to move down to Tier 2 being Bristol and North Somerset and additionally Herefordshire which will move to Tier 1 after successfully bringing its rate of infection to just 45 in 100,000 and still falling.

Meanwhile case rates in other parts of the South have increased by 46% this week, prompting the government to move London and other areas into Tier 3.

'We must be vigilant and keep this virus under control,' Mr Hancock told MPs. 'We've come so far, we mustn't blow it now.'

He added: 'This is a moment when we act with caution.' 

This now means that the country has 38 million people or 68% of the population living under Tier 3 restrictions from Saturday 19th December.

The news will come as a blow to many businesses in the region who were counting on relaxed restrictions to allow them to open during the lucrative Christmas period. The hospitality industry taking the largest hit, with many restaurants and pubs looking at never recovering and being closed for good.

Officers tackling serious and organised crime in North Manchester have launched a dedicated multi-agency disruption hub in the district to crackdown on criminal activity in the area.

The hub was launched last month, in partnership with Manchester City Council, as part of ongoing Operation Haemus – formed in November 2019 following an increase in firearm discharges stemming from two main local criminal groups in Cheetham Hill.

As part of the Haemus hub, a team totalling 17 officers has been formed, consisting of experienced detectives, dedicated safeguarding officers, intelligence officers, and a team of proactive officers who are dedicated to the area in both plain and uniformed patrols.

The team will engage in a range of proactive activities to continue to reduce the prevalence of organised crime in the north of Manchester.

Today (Wednesday 16 December) a team of officers from the Op Haemus team were joined by GMPs Tactical Aid Unit & Tactical Dog Unit in performing an intelligence-led weapon sweep of the area of Mandley Park - on the Salford border.

Any discarded or hidden weapons, firearms or ammunition found in the area during the sweep will be recovered and examined potentially as evidence as part of the 12 ongoing investigations within Op Haemus.

In the first six weeks since the inception of the disruption hub, Op Haemus officers have made a total of 25 arrests, conducted 122 stop searches and have searched 15 houses.

During the same short period, the hub has already seized two viable firearms, large quantities of class A and class B drugs, and seized 13 vehicles.

In conjunction with Manchester City Council, the hub works closely with housing providers, social services, adult services and a number of other agencies in a multi-agency approach to tackle organised crime in North Manchester.

This includes working closely with partners in local authority to provide a range of safeguarding measures and care packages to protect and support vulnerable adults and children at risk of being targeted, coerced and victimised by criminal activity.

Superintendent Rebecca Boyce, of GMP’s North Manchester division, said:

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“The launch of the disruption hub as part of Operation Haemus is a very welcome introduction for the people of North Manchester, as it’s the latest in a series of proactive measures we’ve employed in recent months to tackle the blight of serious and organised crime in our community.

“It is important that we maximise the resources we have available to us, and we have ensured that we have a dedicated and skilful team working around the clock to disrupt the activity of criminal groups, while protecting the public that we serve.

“We have always been honest and open about the challenges that have presented themselves due to the complexities and developments during this operation, but we are confident that we are making a tangible difference on our streets which can be seen by the recent decrease in firearms activity.

“While disputes between local crime groups generally pose little wider risk to the general public, it is understandable that such incidents cause unease and distress in our communities and we hope that the innocent, honest, and decent people we serve feel reassured by this targeted and increased action we are taking in the district.

“As ever, we continue to urge members of the public to contact police with any information or concerns, knowing that it will be treated with the strictest confidence – we have high-visibility patrols that can be approached, or a dedicated phone number that can be contacted – and Crimestoppers is always available for those who wish to pass on information anonymously.”

Any information relating to Operation Haemus should be passed to police on 0161 8563548 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Greater Manchester Police chief constable has issued a statement after anti-lockdown protest marches and a gathering in Piccadilly Gardens took place in Manchester City Centre earlier today.

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"I would like to use this opportunity to publicly condemn this gathering. Both the organisers and attendees were irresponsible - increasing demand on police who are also responding to calls regarding serious incidents and people who are in immediate danger across Greater Manchester.

"Before and during this gathering, officers followed guidance to engage with the organiser and attendees, explain the restrictions and encourage compliance. Unfortunately, the encouragement was ignored which resulted in officers progressing to enforcement.

"Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, officers authorised a Section 34 Dispersal Order. They also arrested four people on suspicion of public order offences and issued 24 £200 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs). Enquiries are ongoing to also issue an FPN to the organiser.

"Enquiries have established that one group of attendees travelled to Greater Manchester from Cumbria via coach. The driver and the company they work for have both been reported to the relevant industry regulator.

"Whilst responding to this gathering, a number of officers were injured. This is unacceptable behaviour towards officers who were simply doing their job and protecting people. Investigators will now work to identify those responsible and ensure they face justice.

"I would also like to remind members of the public that these restrictions are to control the spread of Covid-19 and protect everyone - including you and your loved ones as well as the NHS. I encourage you to do your bit to fight the virus by complying with the restrictions and staying at home."

 

The chief constables of five of the North Wests police forces have come together to issue a joint statement on policing of the new National Lockdown measures which come in force on Thursday if approved by Parliament later today.

Alongside the leaders of Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbia forces, GMP's Ian Hopkins said that they will be moving more quickly with fixed penalty notices and taking a firmer stance on the minority of rules breakers who are deliberately flouting the rules.

Police forces across the region will collectively target large parties or gatherings as well as those who fail to self isolate.

The statement in full reads as below:

As the Police Chiefs responsible for the North West we have seen first-hand the misery the pandemic has caused, but we have also seen great support from the majority of our communities.

We have tried to ensure we have maintained the principle of policing with consent, that sets apart policing in this country from other parts of the world.

Along with police forces nationally, we have taken a very measured approach to enforcement from the start of the pandemic, recognising the restrictions placed on all our lives were unprecedented.

We used the 4E’s model of Engage, Explain, Encourage and only as a last resort Enforce, in relation to issuing Fixed Penalty Notices for breaching the Coronavirus legislation.

Sadly we have seen a minority right across the North West who seem incapable of demonstrating any civic responsibility and complying with the regulations.

We know from focus groups and regional insight work the majority of the public would wish to see the Police Service taking a consistent and robust approach to enforcement.

Since local restrictions have been necessary across large parts of the North West we have taken a firmer stance on enforcing the restrictions, moving more quickly to issuing Fixed Penalty Notices for those deliberately flouting the law and putting lives at risk.

As we head into further significant restrictions from 00.01 on Thursday 5 November 2020 we wanted to give these collective messages.

To the majority of our communities who have tried so hard to comply with restrictions, please carry on. We know how hard this is, but we need to maintain that shared purpose we had in the first lockdown to defeat the virus and, ultimately, save lives. 

To the minority who feel the restrictions don’t apply to them be prepared to face the consequences of greater levels of enforcement. We will collectively target those who flout the restrictions, particularly those organising large gatherings and music events, repeatedly holding parties or deliberately causing harm to our communities by not following the restrictions, such as self-isolating where necessary. 

Where we have issued Fixed Penalty notices a significant proportion of recipients think they can ignore them. We are therefore seeking support from Government and the Judiciary to consider how we bring these people to justice rapidly. Let us all do everything we can to get through this most awful of times and prevent any further suffering across the North West.

Police have released the images of three men they would like to speak with in connection with a racially aggravated assault in Manchester. 

Shortly before 6pm on Saturday 22 August 2020, police were called to reports of racially aggravated abuse on Dale Street in Manchester.

Enquiries have established that the victim – a 42-year-old man - was approached by three men who assaulted him whilst verbally abusing him with comments of a racist nature at the same time.

The victim suffered minor facial injuries which were treated at hospital.  

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

Police Constable Kelly Strickland, of GMP's City of Manchester division, said:

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“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and will absolutely not be tolerated.

“We are urging anyone who may recognise the individuals in these pictures to please come forward and share that information with police so we can get in contact with them to discuss this incident.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 3221, quoting incident number 2433 of 22/08/2020.

Reports can also be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

GMP's volunteer group – the Scambusters, have made over 1,500 calls since the start of the pandemic to vulnerable members of the community to help stop them falling victim to fraud.

In 2017, GMP's Economic Crime Hub launched its Cyber and Economic Awareness Service (CECAS) which is dedicated to providing prevention and awareness information to the public and safeguarding victims. Part of this service is made up of a team called the Scambusters, a group of 16 mainly older and retired volunteers who aim to help stop elderly members of the community falling victim to fraud such as telephone scams, online scams and doorstep crime.

The volunteers offer peer-to-peer support to those who have been a victim of fraud by giving practical help and advice to prevent them falling victim again.

Last year, the Scambusters made calls to over 600 vulnerable members of the community and attended over 40 community events promoting prevention advice.

When the COVID-19 virus spread to the UK and the government began introducing restrictions asking people to stay at home where possible, five of the volunteer Scambusters continued their important work by carrying out their duties from home.

As fraudsters used the time of uncertainty surrounding the pandemic to exploit innocent members of the public out of their hard earned money, the work the Scambusters do was vital in ensuring that vulnerable members of the community could spot possible scams and protect themselves.

Throughout the pandemic, fraudsters have used COVID as a cover story to trick their victims. Scams have ranged from phishing emails which falsely promised the victim a free supermarket shop if they clicked on the link in the email – the link would then lead the victim to a fake site, to enter their personal and financial information, to offenders posing as people from the NHS Test and Trace service to trick victims into handing over personal details.

The Scambusters have volunteered a total of over 400 hours since March 2020, attending online training and contacting potential victims via telephone to give them up-to-date fraud information and support them if they feel they have be contacted with a scam.

Les Allmark, one of the volunteer Scambusters, said:

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"I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people who have been affected by scams.

"Each call is different. Some calls can be very moving, especially when you speak to victims who are older or vulnerable and you see the impact that the criminals have had on their lives. Others calls can be more light hearted – but every call is important and can have a real effect on the person you are speaking to.

"Volunteering from home has brought its own challenges and I miss the interaction you get in the office environment, however we are all supported by each other and by our GMP colleagues at all levels."

 

Five-hundred Greater Manchester and East Cheshire volunteers will from today be invited to join a leading phase three COVID-19 vaccine study taking place in the region.

The study will test the safety and effectiveness of a promising new vaccine, developed by US biotechnology company Novavax, across a broad spectrum of people, including those from a variety age groups and backgrounds. Phase 3 studies involve many thousands of people, giving researchers insights into the effects of a vaccine on a much larger population than phase 1 and 2 studies.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is among the sites selected to undertake the Novavax study. It will be carried out in a community setting, in cooperation with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) Greater Manchester.

Calling on some of the thousands of volunteers who have joined the fight against COVID-19 by signing-up to the NHS Vaccine Registry, the phase three trials are the second to commence in the UK.

A total of 10,000 volunteers are needed to take part in the trials which will also be undertaken at a number of NIHR regional sites across the UK, including Lancashire, the Midlands, London, Glasgow and Belfast.

At Stockport, 500 volunteers are needed. Volunteers who sign up to the Registry and live in Stockport, East Cheshire and South East Manchester could potentially take part.

The Registry was launched in July to help create a database of people who consent to be contacted by the NHS to take part in clinical studies, to help speed up the development of a safe and effective vaccine.

More than 250,000 people nationally have now signed up, including 26,785 in the North West and 11,955 in Greater Manchester and East Cheshire. [data on the number of sign-ups in each local authority area is available here].

With several more studies for potential vaccine candidates expected to start before the end of the year, UK researchers are calling for additional volunteers to sign up to take part in research. To better understand the effectiveness of vaccine candidates and help find a vaccine that works for as many people as soon as possible, researchers are particularly seeking more volunteers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds as well as those with underlying health conditions and the over 65s.

Professor Andrew Ustianowski, NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) national specialty lead for Infection and NIHR CRN Greater Manchester Deputy Clinical Director, said:

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“This launch represents a landmark in the fight against COVID-19 and our Greater Manchester research community is proud to be contributing to this important vaccine study.

“We are really grateful to the thousands of people who have signed up to the vaccine registry so far. It is important we keep this up and that more people from across our range of Greater Manchester communities join the registry because we are going to need large numbers of volunteers to get involved in testing the vaccines.

“We need a really good mix of people of different ages and ethnicities, and people with and without existing health problems. This will help identify vaccines that work for everyone.”

 

Dr David Baxter, Principal Investigator for the trial at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said:

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“COVID-19 has had a huge impact on our lives and we have seen many, many deaths with serious long-term illnesses in survivors. An effective and safe vaccine promises a more long lasting solution and we are really pleased to be part of this national study of Novavax.

“The vaccine has successfully passed phases I and II and this phase III study well answer the questions about its safety and effectiveness for all of us. It is vital we carry out this vaccine trial and we’re honoured to be involved.”

 

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said:

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“We are fighting coronavirus with all our might and we all have our part to play. One of the most effective ways we can defeat coronavirus is by finding a safe successful vaccine as quickly as possible, so that our lives can start returning to normal.

“I am incredibly proud of the 250,000 invaluable volunteers who have signed up for vaccine clinical studies across the UK. We want even more people to join them and sign up to the Vaccines Registry, so that scientists and researchers can make sure potential vaccines are completely safe and effective.”

 

The government has secured 60 million doses of the Novavax vaccine for the UK, which will be manufactured using FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’s facilities in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees. This will ensure that, once approved by regulators, the vaccine can be supplied as quickly as possible.

Professor Paul Heath, Novavax Phase 3 trial Chief Investigator and Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:

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“This is only the second Phase 3 vaccine study to be initiated in the UK, and the first Phase 3 study with the Novavax vaccine anywhere in the world, which shows the importance that has been placed on rapidly finding a solution for this urgent public health need. The vaccine has successfully gone through its early safety trials and we’re extremely encouraged by its performance so far.

“The NHS Vaccines Registry has been key in helping us quickly identify participants who fulfil the inclusion criteria for this study – particularly those from among groups most likely to benefit from a vaccine, such as the elderly.”

 

Chair of the government’s Vaccines Taskforce Kate Bingham said:

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“Finding a safe and effective vaccine that works for the majority of the UK population is the best way to tackle this devastating disease. Whilst social distancing, testing and other measures can help reduce the impact of coronavirus, the only long-term solution to beating it will be finding a vaccine. One of the ways people can help with that is by signing up to the NHS Vaccines Registry, so they can be rapidly called.”

Gregory M. Glenn, M.D., President of Research & Development at Novavax said:

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“Today marks an important and exciting advance in addressing the global COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and around the world. We are confident in the safety of this vaccine and based on the successful phase 3 clinical trial of our influenza vaccine built using the same platform, we are optimistic that NVX-CoV2373 will prove to be effective at preventing infection and reducing the transmission of the disease."

If any of the vaccines are successful in clinical studies, they could start to be delivered to the UK in 2021. It is expected that these vaccines would first be given to priority groups such as frontline health and social care workers, ethnic minorities, adults with underlying health conditions, and the elderly based on JCVI advice.

In August this year, the UK government and Valneva made a multi-million-pound joint investment in a vaccine manufacturing facility in Livingston, West Lothian, which will be at the heart of efforts to produce a new Covid-19 vaccine. This is in addition to the new Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC), currently under construction in Oxfordshire, and the new vaccine manufacturing plant in Braintree, Essex recently acquired by the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.

The UK public can support the national effort to speed up vaccine research and receive more information about volunteering for clinical studies by visiting www.nhs.uk/researchcontact.

Officers from GMP's Safer Transport Team have been out in force across this week focusing on speeding and driving offences.

In just one day (Wednesday 16 September) over 40 people were reported for speeding with the highest being 56mph in a 30mph zone.

Safety checks were also made as part of Project EDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death) in an effort to improve road safety in Greater Manchester.

Officers also seized 5 vehicles (3 for no insurance, 1 for no licence and 1 for no MOT) and processed traffic offence reports including:

14 for using a mobile phone whilst driving

25 for not wearing a seatbelt

10 for issues with their number plate

5 for defective tyres

9 for illegal window tints

Chief Inspector Gareth Firth from GMP's Safer Transport Team said:

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“Sadly we have seen a number of deaths on our roads which is why national campaigns such as Project EDWARD are so important. Speeding has been a factor within these fatalities however we have also seen them happen due to careless driving; and life-threatening injuries which could have been prevented had seatbelts been worn correctly.

"This is just a fraction of drivers that have been stopped for offences in one day and sadly the number of vehicles we stopped was far higher than we had anticipated.

"I would urge anyone travelling in a car to make sure they are making the necessary checks to ensure their car is roadworthy, they are wearing their seatbelts correctly and they are keeping their full attention on the road without any distractions such as mobile phones.

"This campaign has been supported by traffic officers and colleagues from across the force as well as our external partners however members of the public also play a vital role in keeping our roads safe. If you've witnessed an offence on the roads then please report it to us via the dedicated link on our website - https://www.gmp.police.uk/ro/report/rti/rti-b/report-a-road-traffic-incident/. Alternatively you can report things anonymously to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency."

 

Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Bev Hughes said:

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“I am pleased to be supporting Project EDWARD again this year - in a bid to reduce deaths and serious injury on Greater Manchester’s roads. More than 60 families lost a loved one on our roads alone last year – with a further 600 people suffering serious and often life-changing injuries. That’s more than 600 families affected and their lives changed forever.

“Collisions are often the result of speeding or being distracted at the wheel - even a moment’s lapse of attention can cause an accident. So please stay alert, watch what’s happening and think ahead. Lives can be wrecked in an instant and the consequences last a lifetime."

 

”GMFRS’ Head of Prevention, Area Manager Paul Duggan, said: 

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“Sadly, our firefighters are called to hundreds of serious road traffic collisions every year and all too often witness people suffering life-changing injuries, or worse.

“Some people may not realise but we actually rescue more casualties from road traffic collisions than we do from fires - so we are keen to work with our partners at every opportunity and support campaigns such as Project EDWARD in a bid to keep people safe on our roads."

 

A long-running GMP operation – codenamed Haemus – was first launched in 2019 following a number of firearms incidents across the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester. Officers investigating the incidents believe the incidents sparked from an ongoing dispute between two local crime groups from Cheetham Hill. 

Following three more recent firearms incidents – one on Sunday 6 September 2020 on Murray Street, a second on Saturday 12 September on Heath Street and another, more serious incident yesterday evening (Tuesday 15 September 2020) in Salford - police have widened the scope of Op Haemus.

At around 10.55pm on last night, a 27-year-old man was shot on Manton Close, Salford. He was taken to hospital with what were initially thought to be life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, his condition has since improved and he is continuing to receive medical treatment in hospital.

Enquiries suggest that the latest incidents involve one of the Cheetham Hill crime groups and another group from the Salford area.

Following these lines of enquiry, operation Haemus has now widened and will be focussed on the criminal activity of the three local crime groups and the various ongoing disputes between these groups. 

So far, officers working on Operation Haemus have made over 25 arrests and executed several warrants.  This latest development means that officers from the City of Manchester will work closely with officers from GMP’s Salford division to continue this disruption activity.

Work will also continue with Manchester City Council and Salford Council as part of the multi-agency response into tackling organised crime in the areas.

GMP’s Superintendent Rebecca Boyce said:

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“We’re continuing to be really open and honest with the public about this operation and the challenges we’re facing. This is a complex investigation which brings together several elements and we are working hard to build on intelligence and disrupt any activity. 

“Lately we have seen an escalation of violence, spreading out of the Cheetham Hil area and across the Salford border. We have acted on this escalation and are working closely with police colleagues in Salford, sharing intelligence and strengthening our resources. We have launched a dedicated and specialised disruption hub in North Manchester which will be working solely on this operation. This compliments the existing hub in Salford.

“Alongside this work we will continue with high visibility patrolling in the area, as well as implementing a range of covert tactics. A key part of our response to Operation Haemus also continues to be prevention and we have a range of partners including adults and children’s services in both local authorities, who are supporting us with this.

“We know that these tit-for-tat incidents are targeted and are occurring between different organised crime groups. Yet clearly, we understand and recognise that there is a level of risk associated with this kind of dispute. What we don’t want is for an innocent member of the public to be hurt as they get caught in this reckless cross-fire.  As we have said before however, we cannot do this alone and I would really urge with information to please get in touch with us as a matter of absolute urgency.” 

 

Anyone with any information should contact police on 0161 856 61146 quoting incident number 3634 of 15/09/20 or ‘Operation Haemus’. Alternatively, the independent charity - Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. 

Despite Greater Manchester reporting growing numbers of COVID cases, Greater Manchester Police recorded 320 illegal gatherings over the weekend and officers issued 24 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN). Incidents which resulted in FPNs include the third illegal gathering at a property in North Manchester, an illegal gathering of more than 40 people at a property in Stockport, and an illegal gathering of 60-70 people in Tameside. Officers also issued a closure notice at a property in Trafford after receiving multiple reports of an illegal gathering and associated antisocial behaviour. 

This is in advance of the new national restrictions for England to reduce the spread of Covid-19 which came into place this week. People across England must no longer meet people from other households, socially, in groups of more than six. This applies indoors and outdoors, including in homes and gardens. There are a limited number of exemptions.

The new national restrictions, however, do not supersede the varying local restrictions in place in all Greater Manchester boroughs (except Stockport and Wigan). Bolton now has the highest case rate in the country and in response to this, the Government also announced new local restrictions for Bolton which can be found on the Government's website. GMP are urging the people of Greater Manchester to abide by these restrictions in order to prevent the stop of the virus, and report any breaches by using the online reporting tool here: https://www.gmp.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/c19/tell-us-about-possible-breach-coronavirus-measures/

GMP Assistant Chief Constable, Nick Bailey said:

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"Though Greater Manchester has been subject to local restrictions since the end of July, we understand that the news of additional national restrictions for England and additional local restrictions for Bolton is disappointing. 

"Greater Manchester is in a unique position and we are aware of the difficulties that restrictions can cause. That being said, restrictions are necessary to fight Covid-19 and we all have a personal responsibility to comply to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the deadly virus.

"The demand on GMP has now returned to the pre-Covid level. As a result, it is essential that people comply with the restrictions to reduce the number of breaches which officers have to respond to. If you believe someone is breaching the regulations, and it is not an emergency, please report this via our website. Officers will assess the scale of the breach before attending.

"Throughout the pandemic, GMP has been policing by consent. Officers will continue to prioritise engaging with people, explaining the restrictions and encouraging compliance going forwards. However, people across Greater Manchester should be aware that, when necessary, officers will take enforcement action.

"If you are unsure of what you can and cannot do, it is essential you read the relevant guidance on the Government's website."

 

Restrictions by borough

City of Manchester, Bury, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside and Trafford

In addition to the new national restrictions, local restrictions still apply in the City of Manchester, Bury, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside and Trafford: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/north-west-of-england-local-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

Bolton

Bolton currently has the highest case rate in the country - 192 cases per 100,000. As a result, in addition to the new national restrictions, the Government has announced additional local restrictions: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bolton-local-restrictions

Oldham

In addition to the new national restrictions, additional local restrictions still apply in Oldham: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/blackburn-with-darwen-oldham-pendle-local-restrictions

Stockport and Wigan

Local restrictions no longer apply in Stockport and Wigan. However, the new national restrictions still apply.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is encouraging road users to take extra care as the force supports the NPCC - One Road One Week campaign.

The campaign, which runs from Monday 14 to Sunday 20September 2020, sees forces from across the country running enforcement initiatives with a focus on people who are driving for work.

GMP will be supporting the national campaign with a series of roadside operations across Greater Manchester with a focus on speed, together with driver behaviour and vehicle maintenance.

Sadly across Greater Manchester, officers have seen an increase in offences such as these playing a part in road users and pedestrians being killed or seriously injured on our roads.

Chief Inspector Matt Bailey-Smith explains more:

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"We are doing a series of targeted roadside operations across the force as we look to reduce driving offences whilst ensuring people stay safe on our roads.

"Deaths on our roads are tragic and many accidents can be completely avoidable by driving carefully, to the conditions on the road and following the laws that are in place to protect us all.

 "My officers will be out using a range of enforcement measures including roadside stops, mobile speed vans and ANPR technology as we look to reduce the number of incidents that are happening on our roads.

 "Whilst our targeted operations are happening across Greater Manchester, we also need the public's help to report any offences they might see.

 "If you have any concerns whilst out on the roads then please report them to us via the dedicated link on our website https://www.gmp.police.uk/ro/report/rti/rti-b/report-a-road-traffic-incident/ or by calling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”

 

 Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Bev Hughes said:

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“We urge people to take care on the roads of Greater Manchester - with more than 60 families losing loved ones on our roads last year and a further 600 people suffering serious injuries.

“Collisions are often the result of speeding or being distracted at the wheel - even a moment’s lapse of attention can cause an accident. So stay alert, watch what’s happening and think ahead. Lives can be wrecked in an instant and the consequences last a lifetime.”

 

Two Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers helped save the life of a member of the public when he suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his HGV on the motorway and collided with the central reservation.

Whilst on shift travelling along the M60, PC Chris Pixton and PC Patrick Geoghegan-Shaw, came across Shane Sharkey who moments earlier had suffered a Cardiac Arrest at the wheel, meaning he lost control of his HGV and collided with the concrete central reservation, causing extensive damage to the vehicle and resulting in its contents being emptied across both carriageways.

Without hesitation, the two officers stopped and ran over to the collision. PC Pixton pulled Mr Sharkey, who was unresponsive, out if the HGV which was now smoking. PC Pixton, alongside a member of the public with first aid training who bravely came to assist, tried to revive Mr Sharkey using the de-fib in the officers possession and performed CPR for at least 10 minutes.

PC Geoghegan-Shaw helped give first aid to the victim, as well as collating witness details on the incident, until the ambulance service arrived to take over medical care. Mr Starkey was taken to Salford Royal Hospital in a critical condition however; he is now making a steady recovery.

A third GMP officer, PC Nicola Greenhalgh, part of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU), attended the hospital to get updates on the victim and whilst there, supported the victim’s partner who due to COVID-19 had to attend the hospital alone.

Superintendent Richard Timson, GMP’s South Manchester District Commander, said:

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“This was a true act of bravery. Both officers acted swiftly and their quick thinking saved the driver of the HGV.

"PC Pixton has recently completed police medical training and PC Geoghegan-Shaw is currently part-way through the course. This incident highlights the importance of the skills officers learn on this course and I’m glad that they were both able to, in a high-pressured situation, but into practise what they had learnt. I am proud of courage and professionalism they displayed.

"I would also like to thank the member of the public who also demonstrated great courage in assisting with giving Mr Sharkey first aid.

"I am pleased to hear that Mr Sharkey is making a recovery with the support of his partner Debra who wrote a letter of thanks to all the officers involved expressing her gratitude for their actions. "

 

PC Chris Pixton, said:

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"I'm delighted that Shane is now on the road to recovery with the support of his partner.

"Responding to the incident truly was a team effort between the brave members of public and all the emergency services, who came together to ensure the scene was made safe and administer life-saving care. This is no doubt one of those defining moments in my job that will stay with me and I'm thankful that we could make a difference.

"I am also thankful for the additional training of the medic role, as without it I wouldn't have been able to act as I did, or have been in possession of the kit that I had."

 

A teenager has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into a dispute between two local crime groups in Cheetham Hill which led to stop and search measures being introduced in the areas as well as in Higher Broughton in Salford.

A 17-year-old boy is being held in custody to be questioned by police after being arrested this morning (Wednesday 9 September 2020) during the execution of an arrest warrant as part of Operation Haemus.

The boy has been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs; conspiracy to supply class A drugs; possession of a bladed article; participating in the activities of an organised criminal group.

Today's action comes following the seizure of a quantity of heroin and crack cocaine on Tuesday 26 May 2020 during a vehicle stop in the Crumpsall area.

Police have linked this incident to an ongoing dispute between two local crime groups – an investigation which has been codenamed Operation Haemus.

The investigation was launched in September 2019 after a series of firearms discharges in the Cheetham Hill area.

As part of GMP's response to the dispute, a section 60 order was implemented on Monday 31 August 2020 giving officers extended powers to stop and search, under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

These powers remain in place to ensure the safety of the wider community.

A spokesperson for GMP's Operation Challenger in North Manchester said:

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"Today's arrest is the latest in a series of action to disrupt and dismantle the ongoing dispute between rival criminal groups in the Cheetham Hill area of the region.

"It is important that the local community can see our relentless commitment to enforce the powers we have at our disposal to bring down the criminal activity that both sides have been engaged with.

"While this latest seizure of drugs and weapons demonstrates our unwavering endeavour to take action against the individuals, we are fully aware of the need to ensure this positive work continues.

"This work is in conjunction with the local authority and many members of the community, whose support and co-operation has been paramount to our success so far.

"I encourage any members of the public with concerns to speak to our high-visibility officers out on patrol or contact us directly online or via phone, with the knowledge that information will be treated with the strictest confidence."

 

Anyone with any information in relation to Operation Haemus should report online via https://www.gmp.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by phone on 101.

Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Greater Manchester's Metro Mayor, Andy Burnham said that the region needs to 'Get It's Focus Back' after small but notable rises were observed in covid-19 patient admissions across the regions hospitals.

However, Mr Burnham said that it was too early to determine if the rising numbers were a trend, but cautioning that it was not being ruled out.

Sadly another death has been recorded due to the virus at Salford Royal this evening, with a further six recorded across other hospitals in the region.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DypnjUN-8Ck

The Mayor speaking on his press conference live stream said that if we do not start to observe the rules now, we are going to see the number of people entering hospital rise and we are going to run the risk of seeing increases in infections within care homes.

Declaring that:  "This is not a lecture to the people for the sake of it".

He encouraged people to look at the figures and think about the lives involved, asking people to continue to follow the social distancing rules and maintain hand washing and face mask wearing.

Salford's 7-day-rate of positive tests per 100,000 people is currently standing at 63.4 on the week ending 05/09 in contrast to the previous weeks rate of 38.2, a significant and worrying rise.

Numbers that we need to desperately bring back down to lower levels, else risking economy damaging restrictions that have already been imposed upon neighbouring Bolton.

Mr Burnham believes that part of the reason for the rises is due to the lifting of the lockdown in our region being too early as higher levels of the virus were still in circulation, which he believes has contributed to the current situation.

The Mayor also said that he has had positive discussion with the health secretary regarding a localised test and trace system, a proposal is to be submitted later today and it is hoped that the scheme will be backed.

He told the viewers that the current national system was failing and not working properly for Greater Manchester.

A 23-year-old man from Bolton has been fined £1,000 after failing to respond to self-isolation requirements when he returned from a holiday in Ibiza on Thursday 20 August 2020.

GMP received reports that since returning from Spain, one of the countries the government has imposed a 14-day quarantine regulation on for travellers arriving back to the UK, the man had left his home on numerous occasions as well as holding a house party where a number of people attended.

After it was reported that the male had been in breach of regulations, he was stopped a few days later by a GMP officer.

Officers then issued him a fixed penalty notice of £1,000.

Chief Inspector Nicola Williams of Greater Manchester Police, said:

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"Due to the rise in cases in Bolton the area has been put in to further lockdown regulations. This shows the importance of following the regulations and quarantining on return to the UK is just one of the areas people can help stop the spread.

"The actions of this man were completely irresponsible, not only was he leaving the house while he should been self-isolating, he also held a house party, which breached further regulations and subsequently put others at risk. 

"We must all continue to play our part in reducing the spread of Covid-19  and our action towards this individual should serve as a stark warning to any others who believe that they can blatantly ignore COVID-19 regulations without consequence."

 

Since Wednesday 22 July GMP officers have received 263 quarantine requests from Border Force regarding individuals who are not responding to self-isolation requirements.

A self-isolation period of 14 days is a requirement of anyone arriving back to the UK after international travel, with the exception of certain countries.

Those that are required to self-isolate may be contacted by Border Force to check they are following the regulations. If there is no response after a number of attempts of trying to make contact, the details of the individual will be referred to the police.

Officers at GMP will then visit the address of the individual and will police by the four E's of engaging, explaining, encouraging and, lastly, enforcing. To date GMP has visited 263 individuals and have issued two fixed penalty notices in relation to repeated breaching of the self-isolation regulations.

Superintendent Andrew Sidebotham said:

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"It's really important for people to self-isolate for the full 14 days when coming back to the UK as it can take this length of time for symptoms of COVID-19 to develop. During this time you could unknowingly pass the virus on to others, even if you don't have symptoms.

"When contacted by Border Force please respond as once a case is referred to police, it takes up a number of resources in order to visit the address and make contact with the individual. As well as this officers are putting their health at risk by visiting someone who could potentially be carrying the virus. A risk that is preventable if everyone self-isolates as required."