Officers investigating the robbery of a high value chain at this year's Parklife Festival are appealing for information that could help identify the man pictured.

At 5pm on Sunday 11 June the victim had his chain snatched from his neck whilst at 'The Hangar' stage, being assaulted in the process. Thankfully, he wasn't seriously injured.

Detective Sergeant Jamie Heaton from GMP's North Manchester division who is leading the investigation, said:

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"So far numerous enquiries have been made to try and identify those involved in this robbery.

"We are looking to speak to the man pictured as part of our investigation. We believe he was with two additional men at the time of the alleged offence, who we'd also be keen to come forward.

"I ask anyone who believes they witnessed the incident and can help us identify this man to call 101 quoting log 1522 of Monday 12 June 2023. It is also possible the chain may have now been sold online or at a pawnbroker."

 

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A man who arranged to have his 11-week-old puppy's ears cropped has been banned from keeping animals for two years - after a vet noticed that the dog's ears had been illegally mutilated in between routine appointments for vaccinations.

Manchester Magistrates' Court heard that Tyrese Dawood was reported to the RSPCA after vets became aware that his American bully Draco had cropped ears on a routine appointment - but didn't have cropped ears when at a vet appointment two weeks earlier.

Dawood (DOB 21/2/2001), of Wendover Road, Urmston in Manchester, pleaded guilty to one offence of allowing a dog's ears to be cropped, contrary to Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act. He was sentenced on Thursday 29 June.

As well as a two-year ban on keeping animals, Dawood was told to pay a £500 fine and ordered to pay £2,000 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.

A statement presented to the court from the vet stated that Draco was taken to the vets on 2 February 2021 for vaccinations with his ears fully intact. On 16 February 2021, Draco was taken to the vets again - but this time with cropped ears.

The vet said in their statement:

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"The surgery appeared to be either professionally done or completed by someone with plenty of experience.

"Although Draco was not suffering at the time of the examination, the mutilation of the ears was unnecessary and against the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The ears were previously in perfect condition."

 

When visited by the RSPCA, Dawood told inspector Emma Dingley that he had bought Draco for £2,000 but that the dog had been stolen - and when he returned he had his ears cropped.

Inspector Dingley made enquiries about the theft with a store where the theft allegedly happened,  but did not find any evidence. The police were also not made aware of a theft.

In a statement given to the court, inspector Dingley said:

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"The vet states when he challenged the male regarding the ears the male shrugged his shoulders and said his brother arranged for it to happen. Later that day I interviewed Mr Dawood at his home address contemporaneously under caution, with a solicitor present. Mr Dawood provided pictures of Draco and some scissors he used to remove the staples from Draco ears."

An expert vet who examined Draco said in a statement:

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"Tyrese Dawood indicates that on February 8, 2021 he was aware that Draco was experiencing pain as a consequence of wounds on the ears. The wounds also had metal staples applied to them. Despite being aware Draco was in pain, Dawood removed the metal staples from the ears himself rather than seeking veterinary advice and treatment, such as appropriate pain relief.

"In my opinion Draco was caused to suffer due to Tyrese Dawood failing to seek prompt veterinary advice and treatment for the ear wounds which he knew to be causing Draco pain. Suffering would have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of pain and irritation which is likely to have persisted for a period of at least three days, possibly longer."

 

Speaking after the sentencing, inspector Dingley said:

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"Ear cropping is a horrific immoral, unnecessary and repulsive practice which has absolutely no benefits for the dogs and can cause them lifelong health, behavioural and social problems.

"This is done purely for cosmetic purposes. We would urge the public and anyone looking to buy a puppy to remember this is an illegal procedure, which has a hugely negative impacts for the dogs themselves."

 

The good news is that Draco, pictured above, has now been renamed Obi and has been happily rehomed.

MAYOR of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has written to the Transport Secretary today (Thursday 6 July) to brand as "wholly inadequate" the consultation on plans to close ticket offices across the city-region, and called for an immediate suspension to operator Northern's process - or he will consider legal action.

In the letter to Mark Harper, the Mayor says that passengers and staff have been "taken aback by the scale of the proposed changes", and that it feels they are being "railroaded through" without proper consultation on the impact they would have on passengers, particularly disabled people and older people.

He argues that the proposals set out by train operating companies would "further damage the confidence of passengers in our railways at precisely the time when we are all seeking to attract more people to use public transport and rebuild vital revenue."

The Mayor is calling on Northern Trains Limited to suspend their public consultation with immediate effect until they publish an Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) to help inform consultation responses, arguing that current plans cannot adequately be assessed without one, and that 21 days is a "clearly insufficient" amount of time for people to judge such a far-reaching set of proposals.

He has said that if the operator is not prepared to agree to his request, he will have no option but to consider what legal action may be possible.

Read the full text of the letter below:

***

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Rt Hon Mark Harper MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR

06 July 2023                                                                          

Dear Secretary of State

CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED STATION TICKET OFFICE CLOSURES AND REDUCTIONS IN STATION STAFFING  

I am writing in my capacity as Mayor of Greater Manchester to set out my serious concerns following yesterday’s announcement of this consultation by train operating companies. 

In Greater Manchester alone, 58 stations face the closure of their ticket office, often coupled with dramatic reductions in the times staff will be on hand to assist passengers. 

Passengers and staff have been taken aback by the scale of the proposed changes. To announce them without prior warning and head straight into a 21-day consultation period feels wholly inadequate to an issue of this seriousness and feels like they are being railroaded through.

Given the disproportionate levels of disruption and poor services that rail customers in the North continue to suffer, a highly visible and reassuring staff presence has never been more important. If implemented, these proposals would further damage the confidence of passengers in our railways at precisely the time when we are all seeking to attract more people to use public transport and rebuild vital revenue. 

I am particularly concerned that the consultation by Northern Trains Limited is being conducted without the publication of an Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) to help inform consultation responses. I note that their Public Consultation Document states they are carrying out an EQIA across the stations where they are proposing to make changes and as part of that work they will speak to stakeholder groups that represent their customers. The final assessment will be made available following the completion of the consultation process.

However, in order for consultees to provide a meaningful response to the consultation, they will need to have an understanding of the potential impacts of the proposals on customers, particularly disabled people and older people, and any proposed mitigations. Whilst the consultation document provides information about how tickets can be purchased post change, the adequacy of this proposal is difficult to assess without seeing the outcome of an EQIA. Given the importance of ensuring any changes adequately consider the needs of all passengers, I am calling for Northern’s consultation process to be suspended with immediate effect until at least a provisional EQIA has been published to inform responses. Such is the seriousness of this issue, if you are unable to accede to this request, I will have no option but to consider what legal remedies are available.

I am also concerned that, given the far reaching nature of the proposals and the immense detail involved at individual station level, 21 days is clearly insufficient time for the public and statutory consultees to be meaningfully consulted. Whilst I acknowledge this is the timescale required by the legal framework, given the far-reaching impact of this, I do not believe this is fit for purpose and am calling for a more reasonable consultation period to be put in place across the industry. 

Everyone can agree that reform of the rail industry cannot come soon enough to deliver what the people and businesses of this country need. However, ticket office closures and reductions in the availability of station staff are not the way to do it when basic measures around safety and security, accessibility and simplified fares and ticketing are simply not in place. 

Yesterday’s proposals are premature and take no account of regional differences. They undermine customer confidence. I ask that they are urgently reconsidered. 

Yours sincerely, 

Andy Burnham                                 

Mayor of Greater Manchester

 

A pioneering programme backed by global tech businesses and the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), has resulted in £1.57 million of social impact in less than 12 months, establishing 13 local schools and colleges from Lancashire and Greater Manchester as among the best in the UK for cyber and STEM education.

This means that for every £1 invested in the programme, there has been a Social Return on Investment (SROI) of £2.57 in the regional community, further boosting cyber education in the North West Cyber Corridor.

CyberFirst Schools & Colleges is an initiative set up by the NCSC, a part of GCHQ, and delivered by IN4 Group in the North West, to encourage a more diverse range of young people to pursue careers in the cyber sector.

The programme is focused on the most disadvantaged and deprived communities with over 35% of the students supported by the pupil premium, which is a grant given to schools from the government to improve the education of underprivileged children.

There has been an investment of over £600,000 and a contribution of more than 2,200 hours dedicated to the CyberFirst North West programme from across the public and private sector, including its Apex partners: IBM, Northrop Grumman, KPMG UK, QinetiQ, Roke and BT.

IN4, a specialist in enabling regional ecosystems to scale, has created this unique innovation blueprint which others can adopt to create sustainable impact and growth in the UK regions.

CyberFirst North West has exceeded targets in its first year with 13 schools being awarded formal recognitions and 29 events facilitated to promote and encourage an interest in cyber.

To mark this achievement, Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for Defence and MP for Wyre and Preston North, spoke at a celebration event held at BAE Systems’ site in Samlesbury.

Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said:

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“By opening up opportunities for young people to build exciting careers in cyber skills in the North West, we are expanding the range of durable careers in this area, bringing both benefits to those involved and the wider community. 

“This is absolutely about up-skilling and levelling-up and I am hugely heartened to see the investment and progress being made.”

 

Joined by key industry figures, universities and leaders from organisations including the NCSC, National Cyber Force (NCF), the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, there was an awards ceremony for students and teachers from schools and colleges across the region.

The NCF is a Ministry of Defence and GCHQ partnership that conducts cyber operations to protect the UK. The NCF will establish its future home in Samlesbury, in an exciting opportunity to help grow technology, digital and defence sectors, and encourage partnerships between government, industry and education in the region. 

NCF is working closely with local partners to ensure its successful establishment at the heart of the North West Cyber Corridor. These relationships are key to identifying and building clear pathways for future career opportunities.

IN4 has plans to scale the initiative by launching the TalentFirst programme, which will have an even wider reach into communities as it expands further across the North West to Cumbria, Merseyside, Cheshire and Warrington, and the UK, into the West Midlands. The focus is on reaching young women and underrepresented groups who are the furthest away from the sector due to barriers such as social capital, support from education and work experience.

With only 22% of the UK’s cyber security workforce represented by women - a major objective is to inspire girls, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to take an interest in technology during school, college, or university. This is part of a bigger ambition to see more than 200,000 young women pursue careers in STEM in the North West over the next 10 years.

Mo Isap, CEO of IN4 Group, said:

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“By providing this comprehensive support to schools and colleges, the pioneering CyberFirst North West programme strives to ignite a passion for cyber security among young minds and cultivate a more diverse and inclusive talent pool. Having laid the foundations of our unique innovation blueprint in the establishment of the North West Cyber Corridor, this is a hardwired invested collaboration spanning across public and private sectors, and in return, we are realising the true value of the investment the government is making in the region through the National Cyber Force.

“This is a significant opportunity to inspire the next generation, the bringing together of education, skills, technology, and industry is the key enabler to creating prosperity in communities across the UK. It will only further galvanise and grow the existing collaborative and mutually beneficial working relationships.”

 

Lindy Cameron, Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, said:

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“Developing a diverse cyber workforce is vital for ensuring the UK remains safe online and we are committed to removing barriers so young people can pursue careers in the field.

“I am delighted to see the positive impact our CyberFirst initiative is having in the North West – recognising schools for the very best in cyber education and helping pupils develop valued tech skills.

“Working with IN4 Group, I look forward to seeing the programme grow across the region, paying dividends for the local ecosystem and contributing to our national cyber resilience now and into the future.”

 

Last year, Police Constable’s Paul Matthews and Josh Farrell were on duty when they were called to reports of a stabbing.

Despite having no back up and being unarmed, the officers forced entry, finding a woman who had been stabbed in the back, a second woman with serious injuries in the hallway, and the suspect was upstairs with the child.

Without any regard for their own safety, they ran upstairs to the man brandishing a large knife and managed to disarm and arrest him.

PC Matthews said:

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“I’m incredibly honoured to have received this award. I don’t think either of us would regard ourselves as brave at all – we just go into work every day and do the best we can in any given situation, it’s just part of the role really, and I’m proud to do it every day.

“At the time of the incident, PC Farrell was a student officer, but his professionalism and ability to remain calm in a situation like this was exemplary and I knew he had my back from the minute we entered the property.

PC Farrell said: “We both have young children, and our top priority was to safeguard the baby, regardless of the risk posed to us. I think the adrenaline took over and we knew we had to help, it was just a case of get in, do the job, and do what we can.”

 

Chief Superintendent Rick Jackson from GMP City of Manchester division said:

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“Officers never know what they are turning up to when they attend an incident, but that day, they both potentially saved lives and prevented further injury.

“Officers regularly come up against dangers, often unexpected dangers, in the line of duty and it’s only right we acknowledge acts of bravery and professionalism.

“They both unhesitatingly put themselves in harms way and through their brave actions, the man was disarmed, and emergency services were able to come in and help the injured women.

“They are both a credit to Greater Manchester Police.”

 

Paul Smith (05/12/1957) of no fixed address was sentenced to six years on Tuesday 27 June 2023 for public decency offences at Manchester Crown Court.

A serial offender with 170 offences across a 51-year period, he was jailed again after he was arrested in April 2022 after flashing at a stationary bus in the City Centre. The bus driver alerted officers who subsequently made a swift arrest.

Most recent previous offences have linked him to the West Yorkshire area which meant a breach of his prevention order once back in Manchester where he reoffended in a public place two days after a suspended sentence.

He also received court orders and a mandatory therapy programme, including remaining on the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life and must sign the Sex Offender Register.

Detective Inspector John Chatterton, of Greater Manchester Police’s Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU), said:

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“Incidents such as these can cause real distress to any victim and Paul Smith subjected many innocent people to his indecent acts.

“Everyone should feel safe to use public transport and this type of behaviour is completely inappropriate and can impact someone’s personal sense of security.

“The tireless work our offender managers commit to each day has led to Paul Smith serving a lengthy jail sentence. This involves a number of proactive tactics and the management of stringent conditions whilst in the community. This reinforces GMP’s commitment to reducing harm and keeping people safe.”

 

More than one in ten homes in Greater Manchester contains a dangerous health and safety hazard which could pose a serious risk of harm or death, shocking figures have revealed.

Experimental data published for the first time by the government has shown that across all of the region’s homes, almost 12 per cent had a ‘category one’ health and safety hazard. This encompasses nearly 140,000 properties.

This is the most serious category where a hazard poses a serious risk of harm, including death, permanent paralysis, permanent loss of consciousness, loss of a limb or serious fractures. 

Where these hazards exist in a home, it fails to meet the statutory minimum standard for housing in England. Examples include damp and mould growth, asbestos, carbon monoxide, excess cold or heat, lead, electrical dangers and even radiation.

This number of properties deemed unsafe increases to nearly 16 per cent of homes in the private rented sector, with 25,483 homes across the region’s ten boroughs estimated to be posing a risk to the people who live there.

The data also reveals that hundreds of thousands of Greater Manchester homes do not meet the current decent homes standard, which means it must provide a ‘reasonable degree’ of warmth, state of repair and have ‘reasonably modern’ facilities and services.

It comes as Mayor Andy Burnham has unveiled his ambition to use beefed-up powers to tackle rogue landlords and improve the outlook for renters to ensure a ‘healthy home for all by 2038’.

He wants local councils to have the ability to strip bad landlords of their properties if they don’t comply with new standards or face further enforcement action.

The changes follow the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak. An inquest in 2022 found that mould and damp flat in Rochdale led to the toddler’s death in December 2020.

On Tuesday (June 27), members of the House of Lords approved the amendments for Awaab’s Law in a huge win for the campaign. The Social Housing (Regulation) Bill will now go for Royal Assent.

On the same day the mayor called on the government to give Greater Manchester bosses the power to apply a mandatory standard to all rented homes – and a new set of tools to enforce improvements. 

Speaking about Awaab’s case, he said: “This has got to be a complete line drawn on something that should not be happening in this day and age. It added an urgency to the conversation.”

Using Greater Manchester’s new trailblazer devolution deal as a framework, he wants ministers to give the region the powers to actively intervene in the housing sector.

One key aspect would be a regional roll-out of inspection at all rented properties, which would also protect tenants from eviction if they report concerns about poor conditions such as mould and damp.

The data published this month provides for the first time estimates of housing stock condition across the regions, using statistics from the 2019 English Housing Survey data to predict housing quality across each local authority in England.

It has found that Manchester has the highest number of privately rented homes with the most serious hazards according to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, standing at 9,579.

It is followed by Salford with 3,021 and Bolton with 1,984. Trafford has the fewest number of dangerous homes, according to the statistics, standing at 1,366.

However Stockport has the highest proportion of private rented homes with category one hazards, standing at 17.3 pc. 

Across the region there are more than 203,000 homes that are classed as ‘non decent’ – around 17 pc on average of the conurbation’s housing stock, including owned homes, private rentals and social rented properties. 

However leaders in Greater Manchester say that the challenges around sourcing data from across the housing sector means the numbers may not reflect the actual scale of the problem.

If the right measures are included in the forthcoming Renter’s Reform Bill, Mr Burnham hopes the tools the area needs could be in place by Autumn 2024 and help bring all homes up to the decent homes standard – which currently only applies to socially rented homes – by 2038.

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“My message to those landlords is that ‘you can’t carry on as you are, change is coming’,” Mr Burnham added. “If they want to go on an improvement journey, we will help them and we will support them if we can.

“What we won’t accept is this unresponsive, absent response with the ‘we’re not doing anything’ attitude and renting out property not fit for human habitation. It is not on anymore, particularly when large amounts of public money are being spent on this issue.”

 

A driver who caused the death of a man has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Usher Donson (29/05/1996) was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. 

Donson was also given a 10-year disqualification from driving. 

He was found guilty at Bolton Crown Court following a majority verdict on Friday 9 June 2023.

Donson was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court today (Wednesday 28 June 2023).

The convictions relate to a fatal road traffic collision which occurred around 6.05am on Thursday 4th Number 2021.

Following the collision, the three occupants in the back of the car were taken to Salford Royal Hospital, where Aaron Jarvis sadly passed away.

A second victim suffered a ruptured spleen and bone factures.

Donson left Bloom Bar, on Bloom Street, Manchester, with three people in the rear seat and Donson driving a silver BMW 320D. Another male was in the front passenger seat.

The group were planning on travelling to Bury to attend a party and travelled along the M602 and M60 motorways.

After the BMW left the M60, CCTV showed the vehicle lost control and went over to the incorrect side of the carriageway before colliding with a Renault Megane and Ford Transit Van.

Donson and the front seat passenger got out of the driver's door side before making off on foot.

They ran away from the collision scene towards a nearby residential estate. CCTV then showed a taxi leaving the area a short time later.

From the forensic collision report, calculations indicate the BMW was travelling at 42mph as it entered the left-hand bend.

Had the BMW been travelling at the speed limit, it is the investigator’s opinion that it would have been able to safely negotiate the left-hand bend as it entered Bury New Road.

Sergeant Andrew Page, of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 

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“Today’s sentencing is the result of a lengthy investigation. Extensive work was conducted by the police to locate Donson after he left the scene of the collision.

“It appears he was actively evading capture since the collision occurred before his arrest in August 2022. Donson made it extremely difficult for us to locate him by moving back and forth between areas of southern England.

“It took a coordinated effort from the Officer in the Case, Greater Manchester’s Force Critical Wanted Unit and Bedfordshire Police in order to locate Donson, where he was subsequently arrested at a flat in Luton on Monday 22 August 2022 by colleagues at Bedfordshire Police.

“I would like to thank all parties who were involved in this operation, their tenacity in getting justice for the victims of this case has led to today’s result.”

 

A former Greater Manchester Police officer has been added to the College of Policing Barred List for possessing an indecent video of children.

Former PC Lee Ashcroft (12/06/1983) pleaded guilty on 24 October 2022 to making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.

He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, at Liverpool Crown Court on 19 December 2022.

Ashcroft was given a 30-day rehabilitation order and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

An Accelerated Misconduct Hearing today (Tuesday 27 June 2023) ruled that Ashcroft’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

The hearing at Force HQ was chaired by Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who said that Ashcroft’s actions breached the standards of professional behaviour expected of a police officer.

The hearing was told that Ashcroft, who was a PC in GMP's Special Operations, would have been dismissed had he still been serving. Ashcroft resigned from the force on 21 October 2022.

CC Watson said Ashcroft’s culpability was regarded as ‘high’ due to his ‘deliberate actions carried out in the full knowledge that his conduct was blatantly unlawful and morally reprehensible’.

CC Watson said:

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“Ashcroft’s conduct and conviction inevitably brings the organisation into disrepute and undoubtedly damages the confidence the public might otherwise wish to place in their police officers.

“That Ashcroft appears to have derived some perverse sexual pleasure from the exploitation and suffering inflicted on a child is despicable.

“His conduct cannot be further removed of that required of a police officer. He now stands rightly convicted as a sex offender, his career lies in rumination, he has completely forfeited the trust of the public whom he was sworn to serve.”

 

GMP’s Professional Standards Branch can be contacted via the force’s website: https://www.gmp.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/c/af/complaints/ Reports can also be made anonymously via Crimestoppers at https://crimestoppers-uk.org or 0800 555 111.

Bad landlords could be stripped of their properties under ambitious plans to overhaul Greater Manchester’s rental sector, the region’s mayor has revealed.

Andy Burnham is calling on the government to give the region the power to apply a mandatory standard to all rented homes, and a new set of tools to enforce improvements.

These would include a Greater Manchester property check inspection of all rented properties, which would also protect tenants from eviction if they report concerns about poor conditions such as mould and damp.

The announcement coincides with the debate over the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill in the House of Lords today (Tuesday, June 27) – a pivotal moment in the campaign for change following the tragic death of toddler Awaab Ishak in Rochdale as a result of damp conditions in the family’s housing association home.

Awaab’s Law should ensure no social tenant faces the same issues, with strict timeframes to be placed on inspections and repairs for damp and mould.

Mr Burnham now wants ministers to grant Greater Manchester beefed-up powers to tackle the rental crisis locally through the framework of the city-region’s trailblazer devolution deal, with the aim of bringing them into force by autumn 2024.

This would give the ten councils in the region the ability to acquire privately rented properties from landlords who are ‘unable or unwilling to meet standards’.

A ‘property improvement plan’ could also be created for homes which would outline the exact works needed for landlords to get them up to standard and connect them with funding and skilled contractors.

In a speech, due to be delivered at the Housing 2023 conference in Manchester today, Mr Burnham will say they are setting themselves a 15-year target to deliver healthy homes ‘for all’ in Greater Manchester.

He will add:

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“Our national mission should be to give all people a good, secure home. It is a simple fact that you cannot achieve anything else in life without that foundation beneath you.

“You cannot level up any part of the UK when half of its housing stock is falling down and damaging the health of the people who live inside.

”Personally, I believe we will only get the sea change on housing that we need when we make a good, safe, secure home a human right in UK law.

“In simple terms, that means a home that doesn’t damage your physical health through damp, mould and other physical hazards and doesn’t harm your mental health because you live in fear of eviction.

“To achieve this, we are proposing a complete re-wiring of the system to put power in the hands of tenants – but, in doing so, make it work better for everyone: tenants, landlords and local communities.”

 

The new powers Mr Burnham is calling for would build on work already underway by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to develop a Good Landlord Charter with the aim of setting out clear, practical, and accessible standards to recognise good practice, empower tenants, and drive up the quality of renting in the city-region.

The ultimate aim would be to bring all rented homes across the conurbation up to the decent homes standard – which currently only applies to socially rented homes – by 2038.

The UK’s first ever week dedicated to promoting good workplaces will take place from 19^th  to 24^th  June. 

Good Employment Week has been organised by the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, which champions work that is underpinned by a commitment to equality, fair pay, and giving employees a say in how their workplaces are run.   

As the inaugural event, Good Employment Week aims to inspire businesses across the city-region to prioritise good employment practices and to empower workers with the knowledge of what they deserve from their employers. 

The week will see professionals, thought leaders, and industry experts come together to address critical issues in the realm of work, with activities and 25 events organised by the Charter and partners.  

The Good Employment Charter has 513 supporters and 91 members – the 600 plus employers employ a workforce of 120,000 across Greater Manchester and 500,000 nationally. 

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

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“I am proud to launch Greater Manchester's Good Employment Week. Once again, our city region is leading the way with the country's first week dedicated to celebrating the benefits of employment.  

“The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter has established a credible network of employers who understand that creating good jobs creates happier and healthier employees. They also know it brings real business benefits in terms of recruitment, retention and productivity. 

“With major economic challenges and changes to the way we all work, good employment is more important than ever. Our vision is to create a place where every job is a good job. Together we can build an economy where businesses thrive and every worker is valued and respected.” 

 

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and GMCA Portfolio Lead for Economy and Business, said:

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“This week marks the Good Employment Charter’s first-ever Good Employment Week, celebrating the movement for better working standards in Greater Manchester. We’re encouraging people, businesses and organisations to get involved through the various events, activities and the good employment quiz.  

“Already we’ve made a tangible impact on the working lives of thousands of workers, but with people facing a cost of living crisis and other pressures, we need to ensure our movement for fairly paid, flexible and secure work continues to grow.” 

 

 Lou Cordwell OBE, Chair of Greater Manchester Business Board (LEP), said:

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“Most Greater Manchester businesses share a commitment to doing the right thing while pursuing profit and growth. Initiatives like the Good Employment Charter help make our economy stronger, and it’s great to see the movement for good employment celebrated this week.  

“We encourage anyone who is inspired by the events and activities happening this week to contact the Charter team to find out how you can get involved. What is good for your employees is ultimately good for your business, and we’ve seen companies and organisations report a range of benefits since signing up to the Charter.”  

 

Britannia Anchor Removals in Salford won the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Employer of the Year 2023.  

Chris Smallwood, owner of Britannia Anchor Removals, said:

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“Good Employment Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of all those employers who treat their staff with respect and allows them to espouse the benefits that good employment has brought to them.  

“I work in an industry where good work conditions are not common place. It is a tough job and it is only fair that we respect our employees and deliver the best possible working conditions for them. For me the Charter sets out clearly the parameters of what Good Employment looks like. It isn’t just about paying the Real Living Wage - it is about setting in place good practices that encourage a team ethic. The added bonus is that because it works so well, it doesn’t have to cost the consumer more, allowing inflation to be controlled, for me it is the golden ticket.” 

 

Events across the week 

On Monday (19^th June) the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, will officially launch the week where he will present plaques to 17 new members who have joined the Charter, including The Big Life Group; Diamond Bus North West; Seddon Construction; Carrs Pasties and Trafford and Wigan councils. 

Key events include General Secretary of the TUC, Paul Nowak, speaking at the second annual Good Employment lecture on Thursday, 22^nd June, exploring how the Trade Union movement contributes to the Good Work agenda. The event will be held from 5.15pm to 8pm at the People’s History Museum. 

The Greater Manchester Good Employment Best Practice Conference take places on Tuesday, 20^th June at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester. The event, from 9.30am to 4pm, is dedicated to exploring the latest trends and strategies in creating a thriving workplace. The conference will feature expert speakers leading workshops on a range of topics, including leadership, health and wellbeing, and flexible working, as well as a panel Q&A. 

The week also sees the launch of a pack for schools and colleges on Wednesday, 21^st June, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, at Wigan and Leigh College. The pack has been developed to help young people understand what good work should look like.  

Registration for all events is essential. To sign up and for more details about the full programme of events visit https://goodemploymentweek.co.uk/.  

How good is your job? 

An online ‘How good is your job quiz’ will also go live on Monday, 19^th June at https://goodemploymentweek.co.uk/quiz. The quiz asks 21 short questions and will be advertised on bus, tram and digital screens across the city.  

Respondents can remain anonymous and by completing the quiz can learn more about well their job scores across seven different criteria of good employment. They may be provided with advice and information dependent on answers e.g. on how to raise any potential concerns with employer. 

Join the conversation on social media: Twitter and Facebook @GoodEmpCharter, LinkedIn, and follow #GoodEmploymentWeek for updates. 

A Greater Manchester Police officer was cautioned after an internal investigation uncovered she had been accessing the Police National Computer while off duty.

A disciplinary hearing was told that former PC Rukhsar Parvaiz, who worked in GMP's Bolton district, made 22 vehicle checks between June 2021 and May 2022 at the request of family members.

The unlawful checks came to light after an internal audit found they had taken place while she was off duty and without a policing purpose.

The hearing at Force Headquarters on 6 June 2023 was told that by accepting the caution in November 2022, PC Parvaiz 'accepted she had committed a criminal act'.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson ruled that her actions amounted to gross misconduct and she would have been dismissed had she not resigned in May 2023. The former officer was also added to the College of Policing Barred List.

Summing up, CC Watson said he was 'unable to find any mitigation whatsoever'.

He added:

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"Miss Parvaiz accepted a conditional caution admitting the offence of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office for making unofficial checks on the Police National Computer.

"Her actions were persistent and deliberate, and abused the position of responsibility imposed in her.

"This was not a single occurrence but rather multiple incidents that took place over a calendar year.

"The misconduct involved a deliberate breach of policy, procedure and instructions that make it abundantly clear that care and respect should always be shown to information on police systems.

"The level of seriousness is high and the behaviour unacceptable. The officer chose to misconduct herself deliberately and repeatedly.

"The fact it was at the request of family members does nothing to lessen the officer's culpability.

"Miss Parvaiz has proved herself unworthy of the trust the public might have expected to have in her and the service has benefited from her resignation."

 

Food forests and an allotment border will nestle beside an Islamic paradise garden as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and BBC North West Tonight team up to produce a horticultural community hub for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2023.

Designed by television presenter and garden designer Lee Burkhill: the Garden Ninja, the RHS and BBC Northern Star garden will bring together five different communities joined together at the centre.

The different groups each have their own border conveying their own distinct message, which has been stylised into garden designs by Burkhill and joined together with key blue themed garden sculptures and a custom hand-built blue chevron bench at the centre representing the North Western coast and skies.

Rochdale Mosque’s Amaani Initiative, Blackleach Allotments in Salford, Faiths 4 Change of Liverpool, Wigan and Leigh Hospice and Mysercough College Gardens, which is part of Myerscough College in Lancashire, have all worked with Burkhill on the designs, with the finished garden aiming to show how horticulture can empower local communities and bring them together.

Burnhill, a presenter on BBC One’s Garden Rescue, has designed an Islamic paradise garden border, a food forest border, a relaxing, pollen-rich perennial border, a wildlife-friendly bee border and a grow your own allotment-themed border. All showcase the work carried out by the groups in their region.

Burkhill said:

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“Gardening is a really diverse practice, whether that’s based on budget, style, plants or location. But it is for everyone, so this is representing all sorts of diverse gardens.

“It’s a tricky task – trying to blend them together and showcase the best of them so that everyone gets an equal display for the design. Hopefully, we will show other new gardeners that there is a place for them, and there is a style for everyone.”

 

Lex Falleyn, show manager for RHS Tatton Park, said:

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“Our goal for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2023 was to shine a light on local talent and community causes. We have worked closely with the Bridgewater community outreach team to identity a broad range of communities that are gardening for good. We are thrilled with the way Lee has pulled his ideas together and can’t wait to share the garden and stories with visitors in July.”

The collaboration is the latest joint project by the RHS and BBC North West Tonight for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Last year’s RHS and BBC North West Tonight Community Urban Garden was inspired by the new generation of urban gardeners of previous years.

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park runs from 19 to 23 July. Tickets are available at https://rhs.org.uk/tatton

GMP’s Economic Crime Unit have recovered £1.8 million in just 6 weeks into the new tax year following a record-breaking year for the unit.

This milestone is made up of cash and listed asset forfeitures as well as bank accounts that have been frozen and forfeited as well as granted confiscation orders which is where any assets the subject owns are used to pay the order. This could be high value items, clothing, cars or from equity in houses. 

Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop of GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said:

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“To achieve this sum of money just 6 weeks after the start of the new tax year is a credit to all of the teams involved. Their hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed and undoubtedly helps Greater Manchester become a safer place or all those who live and work here.

"We hope this result gives a warning to criminals that continue to harm our communities, we will use every power available to bring them to justice and remove the profit from crime.

“It is an upward climb we intend to continue, and will relentlessly pursue organised criminals and their assets.

"Money, seized from criminals and distributed to police forces via the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), is being invested into communities across Greater Manchester.

"Non-profits which benefit a large number of people can apply for a maximum of £20,000 to fund 12 months’ activities.

"The activities must support GMP’s objectives to fight, prevent and reduce crime; keep people safe; and care for victims."

 

On Wednesday 17 May 2023 Greater Manchester Police relaunched the Operation Close Pass initiative to clampdown on those motorists not giving enough space when overtaking cyclists

Between 1 March 2022 and 28 February 2023 there were 448 cycling-related road collisions involving injury throughout Greater Manchester.

Close Pass was originally launched by West Midlands Police in 2016 and was designed to proactively identify and educate drivers who pass too closely to cyclists.

GMP rolled out the initiative initially in 2017 after a number of trials across the City-region, with the aim to reduce collisions between vehicles and cyclists.

Officers from the Traffic Unit will cycle the roads of Greater Manchester in a bid to identify those drivers who fail to overtake them within the Highway Code’s recommended safe passing distance of 1.5 metres.

Once identified, a nearby police patrol will be called-in to intercept the driver and offer them on the spot education on how to safely overtake cyclists. Drivers who refuse the education will be charged with driving without due care and attention, which could result in the driver receiving a fine and points on their licence.

The cycling officers will use body worn cameras, along with cameras fixed to their pedal bikes, to capture any offences witnessed, including motorists using a mobile, failing to wear a seatbelt and any other offences committed whilst driving.

GMP Superintendent Gareth Parkin said:

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“It is really important that we keep getting the message out there to road users of how dangerous it can be and how vulnerable people on pedal cycles can feel when they are out on the roads.

“So you will be seeing more of these Close Pass operations across Greater Manchester, we are looking at hotspot locations, we will be reviewing our information and intelligence, and also talking to local communities about where they would like to see these operations.

“Not only is Dame Sarah Storey throwing her support behind it but Transport for Greater Manchester have helped us launch this by providing us with the funding to purchase the pedal-bike, so our thanks go to them as well.

 

Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester, Dame Sarah Storey said:

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"I am delighted to see the launch of Operation Close Pass by Greater Manchester Police. Reducing road danger is a key part of the work I am doing to ensure more people have the opportunity to choose to travel on foot or by bike.

“Currently, in excess of two thirds of people cite the danger posed by drivers as a reason for not being able to make their own short journeys on foot or by bike and close passes are one of the most frightening things you can experience whilst riding.

“This operation will play a key role in continuing to build on the work the police have been doing with Operation Avro and Operation Considerate and will pave the way for the next phase of the plan which I will be announcing on June 5th."

 

Local councils in Greater Manchester spent tens of thousands of pounds each on celebrations for the King’s coronation earlier this month. One town hall set aside up to £52,000 to put on events in the area, while some spent nothing.

The money went towards street parties, screenings and other public activities held over the bank holiday weekend, starting on May 6. Some local authorities in Greater Manchester also benefited from government grants for the events.

Independent news website openDemocracy asked all councils across the country how much they planned to spend on the coronation. The seven councils in Greater Manchester which responded said they had allocated a combined total of £126,821 for coronation events, according to the website.

This includes two councils – Salford and Stockport – which said that no cash was set aside for coronation events. Bolton, Manchester and Trafford did not respond to the Freedom of Information request, according to openDemocracy.

However, Manchester council has since revealed that it spent £18,129 on coronation-related activities. The town hall says the money was spent to support communities across the city who were marking the historic occasion.

The local authority facilitated road closure requests for residents hosting street parties. The council spent £6,375 supporting more than 60 street parties across the city such as by providing bunting and road closure signs.

A further £11,754 was spent on decorations within the city centre, including on lamp post signs and library banners. The additional costs of the screening of the coronation at Piccadilly Gardens was covered by a government grant.

The Greater Manchester council which allocated the most towards coronation events was Oldham, according to openDemocracy. The website reported that £52,000 was set aside for activities related to the coronation in the borough.

The local authority now says its town centre event cost £38,664, but part of this was funded by a £17,500 grant from the government. The council says that the event drew in an estimated 3,000 extra people into the town centre.

Oldham council’s executive director for place and economic growth Emma Barton said the local authority wanted to help residents and communities come together and celebrate the ‘momentous’ and ‘historic’ occasion in style.

She said:

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“That’s why we put on a day of family-friendly entertainment in the town centre, including live screening of the coronation on a big screen, and also funded more than 100 street parties across the borough so people could celebrate in their own neighbourhoods. We’ve already had some fantastic feedback from members of the public who have told us they really enjoyed the weekend and made some special memories with their friends, families and neighbours.

“Our town centre coronation event cost £38,664, which was partly funded by a £17,500 grant to the council from the Department for Culture Media and Sport – and was free to attend too, which we feel is more important than ever to families due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Money spent on the event was also an investment in our town centre businesses, as it drew an estimated 3000 additional people into the town centre last Saturday, who may otherwise have stayed at home.”

 

Wigan council allocated up to £40,000 for coronation celebrations, including around £10,000 to help residents host their own street parties. However, the local authority says it cannot yet confirm the final amount spent in the end.

This is partly because one of the events planned in Wigan was cancelled due to a forecast of persistent and heavy rain. The Big Coronation Lunch at Leigh Town Hall went ahead on May 7, but the Mayor’s Coronation Party in the Park which was due to take place at Mesnes Park the following day was cancelled.

A Wigan council spokesperson for, said:

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“This was the nation’s first coronation in 70 years with our efforts focussed on helping neighbourhoods and communities come together to celebrate and show civic pride.

“Following the success of our Platinum Jubilee events last year, the majority of the spend was allocated for our two free public events featuring local performances and traders with something for all the family, as part of our annual events schedule.”

 

Responding to the Freedom of Information request, Rochdale council said it allocated £19,610.50 on coronation events, according to openDemocracy. Bury council allocated £14,000 towards the coronation, the website said.

Tameside council allocated £1,210 on coronation-related activities, according to the website. Salford and Stockport councils said no money was allocated for coronation events, however, both local authorities facilitated road closures.

Salford-based organisations hosting an outdoor event in open spaces or local parks were also able to apply for a King Charles III Coronation Grant for events taking place in the city between May 4 and 8. Two types of grants were available – grants under £500 aimed at non-constituted groups, where the event is open to local residents, groups and members, and grants over £500 aimed at constituted groups, where the event is open to the wider community.

A Greater Manchester Police officer has been sacked after admitting an animal cruelty offence.

Police Sergeant Martin Dunn, who worked in GMP's Specialist Operations Branch, admitted gross misconduct at an independent disciplinary panel at GMP Force Headquarters on 2 May 2023 and was dismissed without notice.

Sgt Dunn pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary harm to an animal contrary to the Animal Welfare Act at Leeds Magistrates' Court in April 2021.

Dunn was seen to punch his five-month-old Springer Spaniel several times after it had defecated in the house.  

The incident in March 2021 was filmed and reported to police, as well as being shared online.

Dunn received a sentence that included a community order requiring 120 hours of unpaid work and a ban from keeping animals for 5 years.

He had been on restricted duties since the incident was reported and investigated by West Yorkshire Police.

Chief Superintendent Michael Allen, Head of GMP's Professional Standards Branch, said:

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"Greater Manchester Police expects the highest standards of conduct from its officers, both on and off duty, and Dunn's actions clearly fell far short of these standards.

"The vast majority of police officers and staff fulfil their duties in serving the public to the highest standard and demonstrate exemplary behaviour in their private lives.

“Public trust and confidence in the police is vital and GMP does not underestimate the importance of officers and staff demonstrating the highest standards of professional behaviour towards not only members of the public but also to animals.

“Having a criminal conviction for animal cruelty makes Dunn wholly unsuitable to continue serving as a police officer and his cruelty towards Frank the dog is ultimately why he has lost his job.

"Dunn’s actions, which have rightly been condemned by the public and his colleagues, bring the profession into disrepute and damage the confidence the public has in police officers.

“I would like to thank West Yorkshire Police, who investigated this case criminally, and, working with the Crown Prosecution Service, secured the conviction at criminal court.

“GMP’s Professional Standards Branch has a responsibility to hold policing to account, taking action where misconduct is identified, and under new management this work is now accelerating, focusing both on legacy cases and new reports.”

 

Dunn's defence said he 'unreservedly accepted the allegations' and that it was an isolated incident.

Paul Forster, the chairman of the independent panel, said the decision had been reached to 'maintain public confidence in the police service'.

He added:

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"Hearings like this are about the individual but also about much more, with bigger and wider considerations in play.

"Therefore, the most appropriate outcome is dismissal without notice."

 

Belinda and Stephen Neild are teaming up to run the London Marathon together in memory of their loved ones who were patients and supporters of the hospice.

Belinda has been raising money for them over the last twelve years, originally in memory of her Mum and then for her Mum’s siblings too. Belinda’s Mum was a patient at our Little Hulton site and died there in 2011. Stephen’s dad Kevin Neild was also a patient at the hospice, with both Belinda and Stephen saying the St Ann’s staff were amazing.

This year the husband-and-wife duo are running the London Marathon in memory of their brother-in-law Alan Sidlow and Aunt Bernadette Bancroft. Both thought highly of St Ann’s and donated to every challenge the couple has completed to raise money for St Ann's.

Belinda hit an incredible milestone last year after raising over £20,000 for our hospice and the duo are hoping to add to this next week.

Belinda has run over ten marathons many of which have been in costumes such as a Rubik’s cube, a Forrest Gump and a sumo wrestler, as well as completing a triple marathon challenge.

Completing a marathon is an amazing achievement in itself, but Belinda also got two Guinness World Records for running the fastest time dressed as an item of stationery – a red crayon first then as a pencil!

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“We’ve never stopped fundraising since 2011, I never expected we’d still be raising so much money but everyone around us knows how important St Ann’s Hospice is to our family.

We know all of our loved ones that had a connection to the hospice would be so proud, it really is a charity close to our hearts."

 

Our Fundraising Manager Lucy Leeming, says:

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“We are so grateful that Belinda and Stephen have raised such an incredible amount of money for us over the last twelve years.

“It means the world to us that supporters like Belinda and Stephen dedicate so much of their time to supporting us and raising awareness of our services. We are excited to see Team Neild cross the finish line next Sunday!”

 

St Ann's provide important care and services to patients across Greater Manchester who have life-limiting illnesses, and they also support their family and friends in their time of need.

Fundraisers like Belinda and Stephen are the reason they are able to provide excellent care to so many people.

Training is not going to be easy but with hard work and determination they will both cross the finishing line and hopefully raise as much money as they can for the hospice.