Town halls across Greater Manchester have paid out £1.1 million on consultants to help try and obtain Levelling Up funding.

An investigation by The Northern Agenda politics newsletter has found that at least £23.4m has been paid by councils across the country to consultants, with £1.1m paid out by leaders in Greater Manchester.

Despite the money paid out by councils on these bids, the successful allocations brought in almost £60m for the region in January.

The successful bids included Wigan and Oldham councils both receiving £20m in January from the government for the restoration of Haigh Hall and to create a ‘Green Technology and Innovation Network’ respectively. Trafford also received  £18.3m allocated to the redevelopment of Partington Sports Village.

And, in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring budget in mid-March, an influx of money breathed life back into bids that lost out on the first allocation of funding in January. Salford City Council was given a contribution of £5.4m for its plans to redevelop Eccles town centre, Tameside got £19.9m to spend on their levelling up projects to redevelop Stalybridge and Denton town centres and Wigan was awarded £6.6m to help rejuvenate Ashton town centre.

The biggest winner in Greater Manchester was Stockport, who were told they would get £20m for a new community hub with a pool, library, gym, community space and play park in Marple. In his Spring budget to the House of Commons, Mr Hunt also included Oldham and Rochdale in the £400m funding pot designated for ‘levelling up partnerships’.

What each council spent on consultants to improve levelling up bids

On consultants, Bolton Council said it had directly spent £151,563 on two failed levelling up bids, supported by a grant allocation of £125,000. They added that the costs of consultants for the bids, one of which was for town centre investment and the other for road improvements close to the M61, was partially offset by the capacity grant of £125,000 from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.

A council spokesman for Bolton said:

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“Up to the end of 2022, the council has used all of this funding and has funded an additional £26,563.07 of costs.”

The council added that in terms of council officers working on the bids, it did not categorise staff time spent working on the Levelling Up fund bid and so they were unable to attribute staffing costs so specifically as this would just be one part of their day-to-day jobs.

Compared to Bolton’s £271,563, Wigan spent the next most of any local authority in the Greater Manchester region on consultants at £209,850. Their council submitted four separate proposals, two of which have been successful.

Aidan Thatcher, director of growth and economy at Wigan Council, said:

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“Levelling up funding is a fantastic opportunity for Local Councils to lever in additional investment to their local areas. Wigan Council was categorised as a Tier 1 Authority, which meant that central government has contributed £125,000 towards our funding bids, recognising the high demands on council resources. 

“To ensure that we are able to put together the highest quality bids with the best chances of succeeding, we sometimes need to use external consultants who are experts in their field. It is a testament to the quality of the bids submitted by Wigan Council that of the four bids submitted to the levelling up fund, two of those have been successful so far.”

 

The other Greater Manchester councils’ expenditure on consultants were:

Tameside – £155,000

Trafford -£132,131

Oldham £131,596

Manchester – £106,716

Rochdale £97,052

Bury – £40,135

Stockport and Salford have not provided figures at the time of writing. 

A spokesperson for Salford City Council said:

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“We use specialist consultants sparingly but occasionally investing in outside expertise is in the best interests of the city and the best way to help secure significant investment for Salford.”

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said:

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“The consultants employed by Trafford Council supported our three Levelling Up fund bids and we ultimately secured more than £18m worth of funding for our proposal to regenerate Partington Sports Village. The consultants worked closely alongside council staff to develop the three bids. The costs were totally covered by £125,000 worth of funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) which was specifically to be used for preparing Levelling Up fund bids.”

A number of Greater Manchester councils explained that the cost of proper consultation for these bids has helped bring in far more money than it spent. Oldham Council added that the bidding process was “complex” and experts were needed to help untangle the red tape.

A spokesperson from Oldham Council said:

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“The Government allocated £125,000 grant funding to the Council to develop the two levelling up bids. The bidding process was complex and required specialist / technical advice, which exceeded the grant allocation by £6,587 – but the consequence was that Oldham was one of only three boroughs in Greater Manchester to successfully be awarded Levelling Up funding.

“That project has a value of £20m and will support the growth of green tech jobs which are critical to improving the socio-economic wellbeing for people in Oldham and will enhance our successful enterprising business economy.”

 

Tameside and Manchester both also fell foul of the government’s decision not to award round two funding to councils who already received money in round one. 

Manchester spent £77,651 on consultants for “doomed” bids, while Tameside spent £75,000.

A Tameside Council spokesperson said:

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“We spent £155,000 to prepare robust bids for submission to the Government as part of the Levelling Up Fund rounds 1 and 2, which has secured a total of £39.8m of additional external grant funding comprising £19.9m in Ashton town centre and £19.9m in Stalybridge Town Centre. This represents a 25,577 per cent return on the council’s investment.”

As with some of the region’s other councils, a spokesperson for Manchester City Council said the cost of consultants was covered by a government grant.

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“The resource-intensive and competitive nature of bidding to secure potentially millions of pounds from the Government’s Levelling Up fund is such that it requires external support in the form of consultants. That is recognised by the Government which is why the council received £125,000 to cover the cost of the bidding process, including consultancy fees. 

“Therefore, this process has not cost the council, or Manchester Council taxpayers, anything other than time spent by officers preparing a bid. Although our Levelling Up bids were not successful on this occasion, we were able to secure £20m for the city in the previous round of bids through the Culture in the City project which will create new tech, media and creative jobs in the city.”  

 

Bury Council did not bid for the latest round of Levelling Up funding after having had two successful bids worth £40 million in the previous round of investment.

The picture across the UK for levelling up

The Levelling Up Fund was launched by Boris Johnson in 2020 with the aim of investing government money into local infrastructure to support economic recovery. But the bidding process has been heavily criticised, with some likening it to a “beauty pageant” and a “begging bowl culture”.

Freedom of Information Requests were sent to 389 local authorities across Great Britain, 334 of which responded. A total of 283 confirmed that they made a combined total of 532 bids for £9.18 billion of funding, only £2.94 billion of which was awarded.

Lisa Nandy MP, Shadow Levelling Up Secretary, said:

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“This investigation by the Northern Agenda exposes the absurdity of the government’s Hunger Games-style bidding system. Communities have to compete with one another for permission to do what will work for them, with councils forced to spend millions of pounds in the middle of a cost of living crisis in the process.

“Labour will put an end to this broken system. Through our Take Back Control Act we will undertake the biggest ever transfer of power out of Westminster, putting communities in control of their own destiny and giving local leaders the tools and backing to drive growth in their local economies, without having to go cap-in-hand to Whitehall.”

 

The majority of the money spent on consultants did not even result in successful bids, freedom of information acts sent to local authorities reveal, including £2.69 million on “doomed” round two bids which were never going to succeed due to councils having already received money in round one.

The failures of the current system have been criticised by all sides, including by the Government itself in the Levelling Up White Paper published a year ago. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove says his department is reviewing the current bidding process and whether it can be streamlined.

As evidence of things changing, Ministers point to the recent devolution deals struck with the mayors of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands giving them a guaranteed £1bn devolved funding pot each to spend as they see fit.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said:

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“The use of consultants is a decision for individual councils – we provide clear, straightforward guidance to support those applying for the Levelling Up Fund.

“However, we recognise there are costs associated with bids which is why across both rounds we provided more than £20 million to help councils develop bids.”

 

This week, Operation Vulcan assisted Manchester City Council whilst they visited a premises on Great Ducie Street, Strangeways. This venue was previously closed by the Council, and the purpose of the visit was to ensure the building was now compliant and ready to be leased out to a legitimate business.

Unfortunately, two more counterfeit shops were discovered tucked away behind the shutters.

A lot of effort had gone into hiding this shop from authorities. Police had to force entry to a heavily secured door at the back of the building, and once inside, they were greeted with an overwhelming stench of rat urine and faeces, and two shops full of counterfeit clothing.

Not only was the building filthy, but it was also in a severely dilapidated state, therefore causing serious concern for public safety.

Inspector Andrew Torkington, one of Operation Vulcan leading officers said:

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“This must be one of the worst buildings we have come across. The shopkeepers had made their own electricity by abstracting it from a neighbouring business. They’d made multiple structural changes; it was incredibly dangerous. We don’t say this lightly. People are putting their lives at risk when entering these shops.

“The visible face of Cheetham Hill and Strangeways has changed drastically since the creation of Operation Vulcan. So far, over 80 warrants have been executed and hundreds of tonnes of counterfeit clothing have been seized and repurposed. But there is still work to be done.

“This discovery shows a handful of counterfeit shops are clinging on to the hope that Operation Vulcan will leave the area. Let this be a warning that our work has only just begun. Working with our partners, we will continue until each and every counterfeit shop is shut down and the area becomes hostile to organised crime.

 

Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said: 

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"The ongoing work going on in partnership with Greater Manchester Police continues to make strides in the fight against counterfeit crime. Through action such as this we can see how buildings can be taken over and turned into crime hotspots. As a Council we're determined to help root these out, and work with landlords and landowners to ensure that once evicted, criminals do not return."

Almost £800,000 has been awarded to community-led schemes throughout Greater Manchester – all of which will improve or create local green spaces.

It has now been confirmed that there are 31 successful projects – at least two in each of the ten Greater Manchester boroughs – from Round Two of the Green Spaces Fund.

Four of those chosen were within Salford.

The news follows on from the successful first round of the scheme announced at the Green Summit in October 2022, which saw almost £400,000 allocated to 21 projects that are making a real difference to their local area. The fund makes small and large grants available for community groups wanting to create new, spaces or improve existing ones in their local area, particularly where there is currently a lack of good quality green space.

Successful bids in Round Two range from community gardens and growing spaces to educational and nature recovery schemes, including:

Friends of Irlam Library Secret Garden 

The project is to clear the land near the library, make it safe and accessible and create an eco-friendly, biodiverse space to be used by library visitors and members of the community.

A Bogs Life

Creation of new green space that will double as an educational resource for visitors as they discover the different stages in the life of a peat bog.

Blackleach Allotments Community Garden & Community Starter Plots

Utilising unused space to build a wellbeing wildlife garden.

Seed, Sow, Grow

Developing the unused exterior land of a former council building so that the community can make use of the green spaces surrounding it.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: 

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“The Green Spaces Fund continues to give communities the support to improve their local areas, in turn helping to make Greater Manchester a greener and fairer place.

“The variety of schemes we’ve been able to support through the second round of the fund really demonstrates the vast benefits that green space can have, from physical and mental health wellbeing to community togetherness and the biodiversity of our city-region. This is why it’s so important that everyone has access to some form of green space wherever they live.

“The next round of funding is due to open very soon, so if you think you can make a difference to your community, I’d really encourage you to consider making an application and helping turn your local area green.”    

 

The Green Spaces Fund is managed by the Greater Manchester Environment Fund (GMEF). A pioneering body created in partnership with the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, GMEF brings together communities and funding bodies keen to channel their resources into addressing environmental problems.

It is not too late to apply for funding through the Green Spaces Fund, with round 3 opening on Monday 27th March 2023. There are two types of grants available: small grants up to £15,000 and large grants between £15,000 and £40,000.

For more information and support with your application visit the Greater Manchester Environmental Fund website. 

The Woodland Trust is urging schools and communities across the North West to join the fight against climate change and nature loss – and reach a remarkable five million free trees planted across the United Kingdom since 2020 – by taking advantage of its latest tree-pack giveaway.

Applications for the charity’s ever-popular free tree-packs scheme are open now and schools and community groups are needed to push up the numbers of trees planted by 800,000 to reach a whopping five million.

Woodland Trust senior project lead Vicki Baddeley said:

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“We’re so proud of the numbers of free trees we’ve been able to give away, knowing they’ll be planted where they can really make a difference – in school grounds and out in the community.

“We’re in the grip of a climate and nature crisis which can’t be overcome without concerted action, so I’d urge every school or community group who can, to get involved and plant more trees!

“Applying is easy and all saplings are fully funded for those receiving the trees in our autumn delivery in November. All you need is time and a small piece of land to plant on.”

 

The last round of the Trust’s free tree-packs scheme in the spring of 2023 delivered a total of 540,630 saplings to 3,272 organisations across the UK, including 55,080 trees to 347 schools and community groups in the North West: 

Cheshire – 10,260 trees to 67 organisations

Manchester – 3,375 trees to 22 organisations

Greater Manchester – 13,500 trees to 96 organisations

Lancashire – 22,680 trees to 119 organisations

Merseyside – 5,265 trees to 43 organisations

Trees are one of our strongest defences against the climate and nature crisis. Evidence shows they combat the devastating effects of flooding, pollution and extreme weather and temperatures. They are the ultimate carbon stores. They are essential havens for wildlife and people. And they make the planet a healthier, happier place for everyone.

The Woodland Trust is committed to planting another 50 million native trees across the UK by 2030 and is urging people to get behind our mission to plant more trees and help us create a greener world.

Baddeley added:

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“In just a few years, your trees will have grown big enough to lock away carbon and be a thriving habitat for wildlife. They’ll offer free shade and shelter and help make the community space or playground, and the people who have access to it, happier and healthier.

“It would be incredible if we can reach a total of five million since 2020 this year – what an achievement and contribution that would be. There’s no time like the present, so sign up and take advantage of the scheme.”

 

The Woodland Trust’s tree packs have been generously funded by lead partners Sainsbury's, Lloyds Bank, OVO Energy, Bank of Scotland and Sofology. 

The UK’s largest woodland conservation charity has given away 13.9m trees since 2010. And if schools and communities can rise to the challenge and claim 800,000 saplings in the current round, that figure will be approaching a staggering 15m, an average of more than 1m every year.

Greater Manchester Police is celebrating having over 8,000 police officers for the first time in 10 years.

110 new PCs have just been attested in the latest ceremony at the force’s Sedgley Park Training Centre and will now begin their careers in fighting crime, keeping people safe and caring for victims.

In front of Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane and Magistrate Barry Frost, the new recruits promised to serve the King ‘with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality’. They also committed to keeping the peace and ‘preventing all offences against people and property’.

The passing of this milestone also marks GMP exceeding the target set by the Government – to recruit an additional 1,200 police officers by the end of this month.  

The additional headcount has allowed the force to increase the number of officers posted to the contact centre, districts, specialist operations, serious crime, custody and people development – contributing to the prevention of crime, response to incidents, investigation of crime and delivery of outstanding service

.Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said:

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“As the force celebrates having over 8,000 police officers for the first time in a decade, I would like to welcome all those who have joined GMP throughout the Police Uplift Programme – whether they’re new to policing - like these 110 PCs, re-joiners or transferees.

“This substantial increase in officer numbers is something the people of Greater Manchester have wanted for some time – there are now more police to fight, prevent and reduce crime; keep people safe; and care for victims.

“All of our new recruits have their own reasons for wanting to serve communities. They come from diverse backgrounds and have knowledge and skills which will make them an asset to the force, I am looking forward to seeing what impact they will have on communities across Greater Manchester."

 

Photo ©: Greater Manchester Police

Chief Constable Stephen Watson, alongside the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Kate Green and Chief Superintendent Colette Rose has addressed inspectors about the force’s new neighbourhood policing model. 

Neighbourhood Inspectors are at the heart of the fight against neighbourhood crime in communities across Greater Manchester, each district has their very own team of Inspectors that lead neighbourhood Sergeants, Constables and PCSOs alongside a dedicated crime prevention and support hub to really gain a deeper understanding into the issues that are prevalent in their communities and implement innovative ways to solve them. 

The communities of Greater Manchester are the focus of the new neighbourhood policing model, which is reflective of GMP taking a back-to-basics approach to traditional policing

An additional 264 warranted police officers are to be posted to neighbourhood teams across Greater Manchester, this means there will be a much greater focus on officers and partner agencies working together to fight crime and solve local problems that mean the most to those in communities across Greater Manchester – for example - burglary, speeding and drug dealing.

Communities in Greater Manchester will see a flurry of policing activity in their area as part of the neighbourhood launch week of action, this activity will continue and neighbourhood teams will work closely with partners and the public to fight crime in their local areas.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson said:

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“We listen, we act and we feedback to the public what we have done.

“Much of the crime seen in our communities is recurrent and therefore, to some extent, predictable and preventable.

“That is what our neighbourhood policing is all about, and it is essential that these resources are embedded in the very fabric of the communities we serve.”

 

Bee In The Loop is your direct line to your neighbourhood policing team and will keep you in the loop about what is happening on your street and in your local community. Sign up to receive free text or email alerts – https://beeintheloop.co.uk

227 new trainee detective constables were attested at Police Now’s academy today (Monday 20th March).

These new officers will be deployed across 14 forces in England and Wales and have officially started their training today at Police Now’s intensive 13-week National Detective Programme academy. Here they will learn, practise, and develop the knowledge and skills required in modern investigative work, before sitting their National Investigators’ Exam and joining their respective forces for the remainder of the two-year programme and beyond. 

Over the course of the two-year programme officers play an integral part in tackling and solving crime, supporting victims and building public trust and confidence in policing. They will also work towards their Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice, in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University. 

Police Now has partnered with 35 police forces across England and Wales, recruiting and supporting over 2,600 officers into the service via the National Detective Programme and National Graduate Leadership Programme.  

Minister of State (Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire) Chris Philp delivered a digital address to the new officers starting their academy training today. They were also addressed in person by West Mercia Police Chief Constable Pippa Mills, Justice of the Peace and Deputy Bench Chair of the East London Justice Area Tina Hayhow, and Police Now’s Programmes Director Farhat Sadik. 

Minister of State (Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire) Chris Philp said:

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“Policing is a career like no other and now more than ever we need dedicated and talented people working to protect the public and drive down crime. 

“In your role, you will have a unique opportunity to help and protect the most vulnerable people in society and help drive the innovation that is needed in the face of ever changing and evolving threats. 

“The work you’ll be doing is of the utmost importance for our society and for our country and I wish you every success.”  

 

Addressing the officers at their attestation ceremony, Chief Constable Pippa Mills said:

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“When I first joined the police my determination was no doubt driven by the same motivation that prompted you; a desire to make a positive difference to my community and help people when they need it the most. 

“When you were sworn into the office of constable a few moments ago, a unique set of powers were bestowed upon you. This brings with it significant pressures and responsibilities. Remember that you have been selected for this programme as you possess the talent, attributes, and potential to thrive. We want to celebrate your differences and varied backgrounds. We need your range of ideas and approaches, your styles, personalities and views. You have the potential to influence generations. 

“Policing is challenging and complex, but you’ve got an incredible opportunity to make a positive impact on society and improve the lives of the most vulnerable. You have exciting and varied careers ahead of you. Enjoy them, make the most of them, stay motivated and take pride in what you do.” 

 

The National Detective Programme launched in 2019 as a pioneering scheme to assist police services in England and Wales with the recruitment, training and development of detectives in the face of a well-publicised national shortage of investigators. This is the largest cohort of detectives recruited onto Police Now’s National Detective Programme to date, and the last cohort of Police Now officers to join the service under the government’s Police Uplift Programme, which is on track to recruit 20,000 new police officers by 31st March 2023.  

Greater Manchester Police has launched a new neighbourhood policing model to make communities safer, following a vigorous review and public consultation.

With an additional 264 warranted police officers posted to neighbourhood teams across Greater Manchester, there will be a much greater focus on officers and partner agencies working together in communities to fight crime and solve local problems – like burglary, speeding and drug dealing.

Through the back-to-basics approach, members of the public will know their dedicated named teams who will be more visible in communities and more accessible than ever before, with a commitment that they will be ringfenced to focus on their neighbourhoods rather than backfilling other duties.

From today, neighbourhood officers can be contacted directly through the new and improved ‘Your Area’ pages on the force’s website and the brand-new community alerts system ‘Bee in the Loop’. Bee in the Loop will also allow those who sign up to be amongst the first to know about incidents and emergencies; get involved in shaping local priorities; and receive targeted crime prevention advice.

The neighbourhood teams, made up of PCSOs, PCs, sergeants, and inspectors, will also benefit from the support of specialist teams - including their own local Neighbourhood Prevention Hubs and Neighbourhood Crime Teams to help them reduce and investigate crime in a way which secures the best possible outcomes for victims and communities. The Prevention Hubs will also work with partners to address repeat offending and demand while the Crime Teams will lead on operations to target offenders who are committing the most common types of crime.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson said:

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“The people of Greater Manchester are at the heart of this new neighbourhood policing model, which is reflective of us taking a back-to-basics approach to traditional policing. Through public consultation, we listened to our communities and this is the embodiment of our action to ensure they are on the receiving end of the very best policing services. It combines the reassurance that comes from having local, visible, and accessible officers bound to a patch, with a determined focus on fighting crime.

“The model recognises that dedicated named officers are some of the most valuable in communities and that, as highly valued as they are, Police Community Support Officers do not have the powers to deal with those issues and crimes which we know are most concerning those who live and work in Greater Manchester. Whilst retaining a minimum of one PCSO in each electoral ward, the number of warranted officers will increase exponentially as we rebalance the teams.

“35 neighbourhoods will be serviced 24/7 by 89 teams, made up of 1,148 police officers and staff – 80% of whom will have warranted powers.

“As a result, the teams will have more time to spend in neighbourhoods and, benefitting from the continued support of partner agencies and that of specialist teams, they will also have more resources to fight crime and build resilient communities which can join with us to send a messages that crime is not tolerated in any community and that GMP will do everything in its power to take criminals off our streets.”

 

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

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“This is the most significant change to policing in Greater Manchester in a generation and one which will command huge public support.

“I am ever aware that we have asked our residents to contribute more to support GMP and I am glad that we are now in a position to give them a clear return on that investment: a guaranteed, dedicated policing team in every single community with an increase in the number of warranted officers.

“GMP has already made great strides and is now the best force in the country on answering 999 calls. But there is more to come. I have said I want to see proactive, accountable policing in every single community in Greater Manchester. With an outstanding leader in Stephen Watson, and this new neighbourhood structure, that is exactly what GMP is set up to deliver and I am confident that they will.”

 

Deputy Mayor for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Kate Green, said:

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“The investment in neighbourhood policing and this new model shows that our priority is local policing – keeping people safe where they live and work. Neighbourhoods will have more officers with more powers who will be taking action to tackle the everyday crime that blights communities from car theft to anti-social behaviour. The neighbourhood teams will be ring-fenced to only work on local issues and to get to know their community and what the issues are.

“We also want people to know who their local police teams are, and so their names and contact details will be available on the new website. People can also be alerted to incidents in their area and be given crime prevention advice through the Bee in the Loop community alert system, funded through the police precept. We want people to have confidence in local policing and getting to know their neighbourhood teams by making this information available should help build stronger relationships.

“I believe these changes in local policing will have a positive impact in our local communities and help us all feel safer.”

 

Bee In The Loop is your direct line to your neighbourhood policing team and will keep you in the loop about what is happening on your street and in your local community.

Sign up to receive free text or email alerts – https://beeintheloop.co.uk

Police this morning (Tuesday 14 March 2023) executed warrants in Greater Manchester to make arrests for non-recent child sexual exploitation (CSE) offences.

Accompanied by the Tactical Aid Unit (TAU), the early morning raids were carried out on addresses in Manchester and Didsbury.

A 40-year-old woman from North Manchester and a man, 36, from Didsbury, were the latest to be arrested under GMP’s Operation Green Jacket, which relates to CSE offences reportedly carried out in 2004. They both remain in custody for questioning.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of facilitating CSE and the man under suspicion of the rape of a female under the age 16.

The National Exploitation Fortnight of Action commenced yesterday, Monday 13 March 2023 and in the coming days work carried out by GMP to detect and prosecute those responsible for exploiting children - both criminally and sexually - will be intensified.

Detective Sergeant Paul Cawsey from the Force CSE Unit, led this morning’s arrests. He said:

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“This has been a fantastic effort from all involved, which has resulted in a man and a woman being questioned on suspicion of offences committed nearly 20 years ago.

"We continue to work closely with our partners in the local authority, children’s social services and victim services, to identify the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and help bring them to justice.

“If you, or anyone you know, has been a victim of CSE, then please don’t hesitate to contact us on 101, via the Live Chat function on our website, www.gmp.police.uk or anonymously through the independent charity – Crimestoppers – on 0800 555 111.

“It doesn’t matter how long ago the offences were committed - you have our assurance that you will be believed and all allegations will be thoroughly investigated.

”If something doesn’t feel right – report it.”

 

Could you spot a child who is at risk of CSE or CCE?

Spot the signs of child exploitation: changes in behaviour; not coming home when they say they will or going missing; changes in appearance; reluctant to talk about friends/relationships and becoming secretive; struggling to engage in school; overly protective of their messages/social media; having more than one phone; accompanied by individuals older than them; concerns surrounding the use of alcohol or drugs; sudden changes/fear of people/friends; unexplained gifts or money; sexual discussions/language which is not usual; evidence of sexual images being shared (by themselves or by others)

If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.

- Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk

- Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.

People from all walks of life in Greater Manchester are being urged to consider becoming magistrates as applications open in the region for this vital role. The appeal is part of a national drive to increase the number and diversity of those volunteering across England and Wales.

The Judiciary of England and Wales and Ministry of Justice are calling on people from Greater Manchester to be part of a new wave of volunteers, giving back to their local community post pandemic. With no legal qualifications or experience required to be a magistrate, it provides people with the chance to give back to their community while developing new skills.

No legal qualifications or experience is required to be a magistrate, but volunteers will work closely with two other magistrates and a legal advisor, who offers guidance on the law. The role also gives people a chance to give back to their community, build relationships with new people and develop new skills.

From teachers to electricians, to stay-at-home parents, anyone aged between 18 and 70 who can commit to at least 13 days a year for at least five years is encouraged to come forward.

With support from magistrates in the North-East the campaign seeks to boost numbers by recruiting 4,000 new magistrates across England and Wales over the next few years.

Data from 2022 on the diversity of the current magistracy in Greater Manchester shows an increase in the number of women (57%), people under 50 (24%) and people from an ethnic minority background (15%) volunteering to be magistrates compared to last year*.

The Judiciary of England and Wales and Ministry of Justice are continuing to build on this work to attract a wave of volunteers who are even more representative of the community they serve.

Magistrates are given robust training and an experienced mentor in their first year to develop their skills and legal knowledge. Magistrates typically develop highly transferrable skills such as critical analysis, complex problem-solving, mediation, influencing and decision-making, all of which stand to benefit them in their wider lives. Research from the Ministry of Justice amongst HR and business leaders showed they felt people who volunteer as magistrates were likely to have sound judgement (89%) and effective decision-making (81%).**

Existing magistrates are stepping forward to talk about the benefits they’ve seen in terms of their own skills boost and the benefits of giving back to encourage others to take part. Claire is a Senior HR Business Partner living in Manchester. Having been interested in the law at an early age, she has been working as a magistrate for the last 3 years after seeing in the local paper that they were recruiting for magistrates.

On her role as a magistrate, Claire says:

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“I find working as a magistrate so interesting. You never know what cases you will be dealing with that day and the variety is so wide. I feel I’m giving back to my community and I have a great sense of pride carrying out my duties. It’s also great to build up new skills in team working, managing differences of opinions and leading with honesty, and these skills have transferred into my HR career, especially in regards to my team management.”

Mariam, from Salford Quays, is a Commercial Director and has been a magistrate for the last 12 months.

Mariam says of her role as a magistrate:

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“As a second-generation British-born Pakistani Muslim from working-class roots, I would like to strongly encourage people from a diverse background and younger individuals to apply. It’s an incredibly rewarding role. Becoming a magistrate can help create positive change for your local community while learning new skills and enjoying different challenges.”

Justice Minister Mike Freer, said:

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“Magistrates have a vital role to play in our justice system and we want to see every part of society represented on their benches. By volunteering their time and experience from other walks of life, they play a hugely important part in transforming lives and delivering justice for victims."

Mark Beattie JP, National Chair of the Magistrates’ Association said:

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“Magistrates are the cornerstone of the justice system of England and Wales, so we welcome this continued drive to recruit much-needed volunteers to help deliver speedier justice for all. Diversity is one of the strengths of the magistracy, so we would encourage those from underrepresented groups and areas to apply to perform this most rewarding of voluntary roles. We look forward to sitting alongside you and to welcoming you as members soon.”

Being a magistrate is a part-time role that can fit round other working commitments. From making an impact on families’ futures and children’s lives as a family court magistrate, to handling criminal cases as a criminal court magistrate, candidates are being sought to fill positions across all jurisdictions. Whether a family or criminal court magistrate, whichever role volunteers take up, magistrates regularly make decisions that will shape the lives of individuals for years to come.

Applications are now open in Greater Manchester, anyone looking to volunteer should visit https://icanbeamagistrate.co.uk for more information.

Police are asking for help in finding a woman who was last seen in Manchester City Centre on Wednesday 1st March 2023?

Victoria Rice, 32, from Newcastle, has links to Manchester and Tameside. She was last seen on Market Street in the City Centre.

Police say that she is described as being 5ft tall with long blonde hair.

She was last seen wearing a black leather coat, white trainers and black bottoms.

She was also wearing glasses and a white and pick bobble hat, and was pulling a dark blue suitcase.

Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about Victoria and want to make sure she is safe and well.

Anyone with information about Victoria's whereabouts should contact police on 0161 856 4275 or via 101, quoting MSP/06A2/0000349/23.

At around 9.55pm on Wednesday, 8 March 2023, a vehicle described as a dark-coloured SUV-type, believed to be a Seat Arona, pulled up at the side of the road on Alderglen Road junction, Deerhurst Drive.

There were two men in the front of the vehicle and a woman sat in the back.

The driver got out the car and walked around to the rear passenger seat, where he opened the door and was seen to physically and verbally assault the woman.

The driver, is described as an Asian man in his 30s, around 5ft 9, with a bald head, skinny build, and wearing a grey tracksuit with a thin black coat.

The woman was described as having a blonde messy bun, aged approximately in her 30’s, wearing a black fur coat. It was reported that her hands were tied with a black string or rope.

There is no further information on the front-seat passenger other than that he was a man.

CCTV captured the incident and showed the vehicle driving off down Alderglen Road towards Cheetham Hill Road.

Police are concerned for the safety of the woman and are looking for any witnesses who may be able to identify the vehicle or the occupants.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 101, quoting log number 3363 of 08/03/2023. Or contact 0161 856 1146

Alternatively, information can be shared anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police are appealing for the Daniel Steven Richardson (20/03/1982) is wanted in connection with a common assault in Salford and a theft in the Tameside area, and for failure to appear at court.

Richardson is known to have links to the Salford, Stockport and Tameside areas of Greater Manchester.

Anybody with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact police on 0161 856 9232 or the independent charity – Crimestoppers – anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Charities in Greater Manchester have a chance to win a share of a £25,000 prize pot offered by expert charity insurer Ansvar as part of its Community Campaign.

Many good causes in the region have been struggling to raise funds during the current cost of living crisis and Ansvar, which has insured charities, churches and voluntary groups for more than 60 years, is offering help.

The money will be split three ways: £15,000 for the overall winner with £5,000 each going to two additional charities.

Applications for funding can be submitted between Monday 6th March and Monday 17th April, with winners announced by Wednesday 31st May. Charities simply need to complete a short online form and explain in 500 words or less why their project deserves the prize.

Judges will be looking for projects that are about to start, or already running, which positively impact the local community.

Sarah Cox, Managing Director at Ansvar, said:

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“These are tough times for many charities, so we’re delighted to announce our search for three registered charities to benefit from a £25,000 prize pot.

“We know how much that money will mean to projects being run across the country and the judges are particularly keen to receive entries that provide a detailed outline of how the money would be spent.”

 

A judging panel will meet to decide the winner – and entries need to be made online via the Ansvar website. Entrants must be a registered charity and their charity number will be needed to apply.

Sarah Cox added:

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“We’ve been insuring charitable organisations at the heart of the community for a long time and giving back to the community is an important part of what we do.

“So, we’re really looking forward to hearing from a wide breadth of charities and learning how they could benefit from this funding boost. We strongly urge any eligible charities in need of funding to submit an application.”

 

For more information, please visit: https://www.ansvar.co.uk/community-campaign-2023/community-campaign-2023/

Photo ©: Ansvar

In a 10-week period it is estimated the gang moved 25.5kg of heroin and cocaine worth £1.15m

In total, just under £170,000 was seized from the gang

Six members of an Organised Crime Group who ran a 'complete drugs operation' that supplied heroin and cocaine across the north west have been jailed for more than 50 years.

The sentences follow several surveillance operations in north Manchester, Middleton and Stockport.

The gang - led by Ricci Ferrari from Moston - was involved in the supply of cocaine and heroin in wholesale amounts through a drugs line that operated across the north west and at a more local level in the Moston and Harpurhey areas of Manchester through a network of street dealers.

They used a series of 'safe houses', often forcing drug users to allow them to use their premises for the storage and preparation of drugs.

In a 10-week period from March 2020-June 2020, it is estimated the gang moved 25.5kg of heroin and cocaine worth £1.15m.

In total, just under £170,000 was seized from the gang in a series of warrants in late 2020 and early 2021.

In total, six people were sentenced to a total of 54 years at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday (2 March 2023):

Ricci Ferrari (21/10/1984), of Alcester Close, Middleton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering and was jailed for 12 years.

Stuart Shears (12/12/1970), of Ravenoak Road, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, money laundering and assisting an offender, and was jailed for 12 years.

Anthony Davies (26/08/1984), of Gisburne Avenue, Moston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, money laundering and assisting an offender, and was jailed for 12 years.

Callum Hunt (16/02/1990), of Caen Avenue, Moston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was jailed for seven years and six months.

Ryan Roberts (01/12/1989), of Branston Road, Moston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and escaping from lawful custody, and was jailed for five years and nine months.

Steven Aronwich (DOB 26/10/1990), of Anfield Road, Moston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was jailed for five years and two months.

Four members of the gang were sentenced at previous hearings and there will be a proceeds of crime hearing at a later date.

Surveillance by GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Group started in August 2020 with ringleader Ferrari, Davies and Shears all under observation.

Ferrari tried to give the impression he was running a legitimate property company but was using criminal money to fund his business while Davies and Shears ran the drugs line for him.

On 7 December 2020, at a warrant at Thorverton Square, Moston, officers found 1.42kg of heroin and 21kg of mixing agent and Aronwich and Roberts were arrested after fleeing.

Two weeks later, a house on Ibbotsen Walk was also raided and 1.1kg of cocaine, 1kg of mixing agent and a small amount of heroin was recovered.

Shears and Hunt were then put under observation and were seen meeting at a Manchester city centre hotel on 5 January 2021. It is believed they were inside going through the gang's accounts and counting money.

Shears was followed to Tweedle Hill Road, Blackley, where three 1kg blocks of cocaine and £167,000 in cash were found - some of the money was found in a bathtub with a large amount stuffed into a sofa.

When officers searched the Stockport home of Shears they found around £2,000 in cash in the master bedroom, a special edition Pinarello Dogma bicycle valued at over £10,000 and a Wattbike valued at around £3,000.

The house had been extensively renovated throughout including the rear garden that had been 'landscaped at great expense'.

Ferrari was arrested on 21 January 2021 on suspicion of conspiracy to deal class A drugs and charged along with Shears and Davies.

Detective Chief Inspector Claire McGuire, of GMP's Serious Crime Division, said:

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"We have taken out a drugs line from top to bottom that not only removes a number of drug dealers from the street but also their drugs.

"This was a complete operation with drugs coming in from Europe, from Spain and the Netherlands, cut with a mixing agent and then distributed via a network of street sellers.

"They made a massive profit from mixing the drugs and selling it on the streets."

 

Today (Tuesday 28 February) Greater Manchester Police was joined by the Deputy Mayor and Assistant Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Kate Green and Bev Hughes, Chief Constable Steve Jupp, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Serious Organised Crime, and Immigration Enforcement officers, to showcase the work Operation Vulcan has achieved so far with their multi-agency approach.

The day began with a planning session with partners to discuss the next steps of how Operation Vulcan can collectively tackle the criminality in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways, whilst ensuring that the local community and the safeguarding of victims remains at the heart of the operation.

At midday, officers conducted multiple joint visits with Immigration Enforcement to two premises on Moulton Street and Harris Street. These visits are conducted regularly to ensure that no workers are being exploited or taken advantage of.

Detective Chief Inspector Jen Kelly, one of Operation Vulcan’s leading officers said: 

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“It was great to welcome our visitors today to show the hard work our team are doing on a daily basis to restore Cheetham Hill and Strangeways to a thriving hub of legitimate businesses. Our work is much deeper than just raiding the shops, and we work regularly with our dedicated partners to ensure every element of criminality is targeted, and every victim is safeguarded.”

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, said: 

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“Operation Vulcan is such an important initiative which is proving to be very successful in stopping and catching those who are blighting these communities.

“It’s not just about stopping the production and sale of counterfeit goods, but the wider serious crime and violence all related to this in this area. Serious and organised crime gangs have been operating in this area for too long, preying on vulnerable people to line their own pockets and dragging the whole community in Cheetham Hill and Strangways down. It will not be tolerated, and I’ve been really impressed to see first-hand how GMP’s Operation Vulcan team, in coordination with partners, are stopping and catching those responsible and driving this criminal activity out for good.”

 

Kendal Barnett, HM Inspector for North West Immigration Enforcement said:

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“Immigration enforcement is a really important part of tackling organised crime in Cheetham Hill and Strangeways, which is why we have a dedicated immigration officer embedded within Greater Manchester Police, focused solely on Operation Vulcan.

“This joint partnership working allows us to share intelligence and work closely with police to identify suspects who may not only be breaking immigration law, but could be vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs because they don’t have the same protections as those with the right to work in the UK. We are committed to safeguarding people who may be at risk of modern slavery, and we are pleased to be supporting Operation Vulcan with this targeted, more joined up approach.”

 

Greater Manchester’s (GM) Air Quality Administration Committee met yesterday to consider an update on the city region’s Clean Air Plan. The 10 local authorities remain committed to cleaning up the air residents breathe but in a way that does not put jobs, livelihoods and businesses at risk.

GM leaders submitted the case for an investment-led, non-charging Clean Air Plan in July, which does not include a charging Clean Air Zone. They are still waiting for detailed government feedback on the matter.

Last month the government asked the GMCA to provide further evidence in support of the plan.

·    They have submitted evidence to show how investment in zero-emission buses will help GM meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide on the A58 Bolton Road in Bury with the launch of regulated bus services in Wigan and Bolton.

·    Government has also asked GM to model how its investment-led Clean Air Plan performs (in terms of delivering compliance with legal nitrogen dioxide levels) against the ‘benchmark’ of a charging clean air zone to address the nitrogen dioxide exceedances identified in central Manchester and Salford.

GM leaders expect to provide the additional evidence, which requires detailed modelling, to government by the end of June 2023. They remain committed and confident of the case for the investment-led, non-charging plan.

Once they have had full, formal government feedback on the Clean Air Plan following the submission of this additional evidence, they will consider timescales for a public consultation on the plan.

They are still accepting funding applications from eligible HGV and bus owners for vehicle upgrades. Nearly 90 percent of Greater Manchester’s bus fleet now meets government emission standards thanks to the government Clean Air Bus Fund. Funding has also been awarded to upgrade 385 HGVs.

While they await government feedback on the Clean Air Plan, the delivery of Clean Air funding support for other vehicles is under review. They continue to work with impacted vehicle owners to make sure government funding is used in the best way in support of an investment-led plan.

For more information follow this link. 

It has been over 4 weeks since the last vehicle theft was reported at the Trafford centre.

Operation Lexford has fulfilled its aim to robustly tackle vehicle crimes in Trafford.

Officers are continually providing a visible deterrent in shopping centre car parks to stop those thinking of targeting vehicles.

So far, 6 arrests have been made and 12 vehicles recovered, all of the vehicles have been returned to victims.

Inspector Leanne Kennedy of GMP’s Trafford District, said:

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“This operation is an excellent showcase of GMP’s continued commitment to tackling vehicle crime across Greater Manchester.

“As part of the operation, there has been an increased police presence at Trafford Centre and we have been holding weekly police surgeries with focus on providing people with tailored crime prevention advice and we have been working in partnership the Trafford Centre security team. 

"We will continue to work to bring offenders to justice, but I would ask that the public to help us to help them, by being vigilant when visiting the Trafford Centre, and to follow our simple crime prevention advice found on the crime prevention page on our website."

 

There are a number of ways to minimise the threat of a vehicle being taken when it is parked:

- Double check that your car is locked when leaving it, don’t just rely on the fob as signals can be blocked, preventing vehicles locking.

- Invest in a faraday bag – they are lined with metal material and could help block the key’s signal.

- Don’t leave any valuables on display in your car, even loose change can attract attention.

- Invest in a tracking device – it won’t stop the vehicle being stolen, but it can significantly increase the chances of police locating and returning a vehicle to the rightful owner.

- Fitting a steering wheel lock can reduce opportunities for theft. They are a visual deterrent and can slow an offender down.

As always, stay vigilant and if you notice anything unusual or suspicious, please report it to the police via the LiveChat facility on gmp.police.uk or call 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Global learning platform Preply take a look at some of the most nurturing factors to encourage multilingualism, revealing the UK hubs set to raise the next multilingual generation

Over half of the world’s population can speak more than one language, with 43% classifying as bilingual and a further 17% identifying as multilingual. Although a respectable one third of Brits (36%) speak more than one language, the world’s topmost bilingual nation is Indonesia, where ¾ of the population speak a second language.
 
Taking over 110 UK towns and cities, Preply’s latest research reveals the UK ‘hubs’ set to raise the next multilingual generation. The study considers bilingual/international schools, demand for learning a language and size of bilingual community (bilingual population), to reveal the country’s top locations for nurturing multilingualism in children.
 
Ranking as the UK’s top ten are…
 
Cambridge
Reading
Ipswich
Manchester
London
Oxford
Bristol
Derby / Leicester (joint 8th)
Nottingham
Edinburgh / Exeter (joint 10th)
 
Cambridge takes the crown and London fails to make the top three, placing in a respectable fifth place, whilst Reading and Ipswich complete the top three. Completing the UK top ten are Manchester, Oxford, Bristol, Derby and Leicester (joint eighth), Nottingham and finally Edinburgh and Exeter in joint tenth [see infographic 1].
 
Manchester’s high ranking is largely owed to its appetite for “picking up” a new language, as annual demand for learning a language hovered around the 8000-mark last year. Alongside its willingness to learn a new language the city is also home to the UK’s fifth largest bilingual community, as 18.3% of it’s population register as speaking more than one language.

Where Manchester falls shortest compared to higher ranking cities Cambridge and Reading is the bilingual schools category, offering a scarcer 3.02 per 10,000 children, however these do still carry a high average rating of 4.62.

As for the languages Manchester residents were most interested in learning last year, Spanish came top of the list, followed by French in second and Arabic in third.

In comparison, Cambridge’s top ranking is owed to its wealth of great bilingual schools and its keen interest in learning a new language. The city boasts 11.78 independent bilingual schools per 10,000 children, which have one of the highest collective ratings in the UK (4.78). When learning a language, at-home support and development is indispensable, so parents and guardians can also help when learning too. In 2022, Cambridge registered 3000+ searches for “learn X” (across various languages).
 
A strong bilingual community is also important, and Cambridge has the UK’s third largest, with 20% of its residents speaking a second language. The cities’ bilingual community is beaten only by London and Leicester.

Locations leading the way for Sign Language fluency

When looking at bilingual population data, this includes those who are proficient in British Sign Language. Leading the way towards a more inclusive future for the deaf community, the UK’s largest BSL-speaking community is found in Gloucester, where 0.09% of the population are proficient in BSL. 

Joining Gloucester in the top three for BSL-speaking communities are Barnsley (0.08%) and Bournemouth (0.07%). Manchester places among the UK’s top ten largest BSL-speaking communities, with 0.03% of its population being proficient in the language.

 
With bilingualism and multilingualism being proven to have many social, psychological and lifestyle advantages, the benefits of having more than one language at our disposal are more than threefold. Encouraging the younger generation towards becoming apt with multiple languages is one of the best head starts in life one can be given.
 

Hamilton will begin its first ever UK tour at the Manchester Palace Theatre this November, making us the first UK city outside of London to ever play the show.

The musical will begin a 15 week season until Saturday 24 February 2024 followed by a run at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Wednesday 28 February – Saturday 27 April 2024.

The Olivier, Tony and Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical opened at the newly re-built and restored Victoria Palace Theatre in London in December 2017 where it continues to play to sell-out houses and is currently booking until 2 March 2024.

The production continues to play to record breaking houses on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, throughout North America, in Toronto, Australia and Germany with forthcoming seasons in New Zealand an International tour also planned.

Since the day the show opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London has embraced Hamilton with an enthusiasm we could never have imagined.

Hamilton Producer Jeffrey Seller, said:

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“We are excited to embark on a UK tour and share this special musical with audiences in Manchester and Edinburgh first.”

Cameron Mackintosh, said:

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“Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton is indisputably the most brilliant, ground-breaking, contemporary musical of modern times. I feel extraordinarily fortunate that Lin and my friend Jeffrey Seller, the show’s original producer, have entrusted me with their wonderful musical in the UK and Ireland. The London production opened in 2017 at the Victoria Palace, a theatre I completely rebuilt to house Hamilton, where it continues to play and has proved to be as big a success as the Broadway original. So, I am thrilled that it is time to put together a second British national touring company to bring this great show to our leading cities.

Opening first in Manchester, followed by Edinburgh – not far from where the real story of Alexander Hamilton began in Ayrshire, where his father was born in the 1700’s, before he moved to Nevis in the West Indies. Tomorrow we start casting for a brilliant new company. We look forward to welcoming audiences to “the room where it happens”.

 

ATG Theatrecard tickets will go on sale for Manchester on Friday 10th March at 10am. General tickets will then go on sale for the seasons in Manchester and Edinburgh on 13 March at 10am 2023. Sign-up at https://hamiltonmusical.com for access to priority tickets.