Paul Britton

A misconduct hearing in Bury is examining allegations by PC Y against seven serving and two former Greater Manchester Police officers. PC Mohammed Abid denied saying her braided hair looked like a mop and accused her of fabricating claims about comments on her hair. Sgt Adrian Bick admitted comparing a photograph of a fraud suspect to PC Y’s mother, accepted breaches relating to authority, respect and courtesy, but denied that the remark was racist or breached equality and diversity standards. Five other officers and two former officers are accused of mocking or mimicking PC Y’s African accent; they deny wrongdoing. The hearing is continuing.

Nathan Haigh, 31, was found unresponsive at a flat on Great Howarth near Wardle on August 11. A 37-year-old woman, Rebecca Hamer, was arrested on suspicion of murder after police initially considered the death suspicious, but Greater Manchester Police later ruled out murder as a line of enquiry and released her on bail for assault. Hamer paid tribute to Haigh, describing him as kind, funny, helpful and devoted to his cat Ronnie. The investigation remains ongoing while police await the full post-mortem results, and officers say there is no wider risk to the public.

Dylan Woodhead, a 22-year-old first-time prisoner, died by suicide at HMP Hindley on 8 January 2021, just 10 days after arriving there. A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigation found that prison officers failed to complete required evening and morning roll checks, while Woodhead was able to obtain psychoactive substances despite Covid-era restrictions. The substances were not judged to have caused his death, but the watchdog raised concerns about their impact and said his previous prison, HMP Forest Bank, should have considered suicide and self-harm procedures earlier. An inquest concluded that he died by suicide. The Prison Service and Forest Bank said they accepted the report’s recommendations.

UNESCO says the survival and continued legibility of Jodrell Bank Observatory’s components, particularly the Lovell Telescope, are central to retaining the site’s World Heritage value, while cautioning that it is too early to assess the effect of UK funding cuts on that status. The University of Manchester says the loss of approximately £2.8 million annually could end the telescope’s active radio-astronomy role by March 2028 and eliminate 28 jobs. UKRI and the Science and Technology Facilities Council will not prioritise further funding for e-Merlin after the current agreement ends, although the government says Jodrell Bank will remain open, host research and serve as the headquarters of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner defended Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s record on rough sleeping in Greater Manchester, arguing that the issue is difficult to tackle in isolation because successful schemes can attract people from elsewhere. Burnham’s A Bed Every Night initiative helped reduce rough sleeping from 268 people in 2017 to 90 in 2021, but the figure rose to 197 in 2025. England’s total also increased to 4,793 in 2025. Rayner said the government aims to get everyone off the streets by Christmas by working with local authorities, charities, faith groups and Shelter, while emphasizing longer-term housing, employment, mental-health and addiction support rather than a short-term reduction in visible rough sleeping.

British Transport Police has deployed a remotely operated “Drone in a Box” system in Greater Manchester, with two drones based at Network Rail’s Rail Operating Centre in Manchester and controlled by pilots in London. Since launching in April, the drones have assisted with around 20 incidents, including locating a vulnerable woman at Ashburys station and monitoring passengers evacuated from a broken-down train. BTP says the drones provide live aerial intelligence, improve situational awareness, and enable faster responses to trespassing, missing-person searches, major incidents, serious crimes, and trackside obstructions. Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said the force hopes to expand the number of drones and operating sites.

A misconduct hearing was told that seven serving Greater Manchester Police officers and two former officers based at Bury allegedly mocked a Black female colleague’s African accent, laughed at her speech and imitated her laugh. Further allegations include Sergeant Adrian Bick comparing a fraud suspect’s photograph to the officer’s mother and PC Mohammed Abid describing her braided hair as resembling a mop. PC Y said the conduct was upsetting, anxiety-inducing and amounted to bullying; she also reported subsequent stress and high blood pressure. The officers deny misconduct or gross misconduct allegations, while Abid specifically denies commenting on her hair. The hearing is scheduled to continue until 9 September.

Police seizures of e-bikes in Greater Manchester rose from 78 to 86 over the latest reported 12-month period, while UK-wide confiscations increased 83% year on year to 7,049. Campaigners, police and politicians are calling for stronger laws, including a proposed ban on selling illegal e-bikes and conversion kits as unsafe products. Legal electrically assisted pedal cycles must have motors limited to 250 watts and cut out at 15.5 mph, whereas modified machines can exceed 70 mph. The government has strengthened police seizure powers and is considering tougher product-safety rules, with a consultation response expected soon.

A wildfire near Dovestone Reservoir in Oldham remains in a prolonged containment phase, with firefighters managing hotspots, maintaining wet containment lines and preventing the fire from spreading through deep peat. Recent rainfall has not significantly improved conditions, and Bank Lane remains closed while the public is urged to stay away. At Tintwistle Moor near Glossop, Derbyshire firefighters have confirmed that one sector is free of flames and hotspots, allowing resources to be redeployed to three remaining sectors while United Utilities continues monitoring.

The family of the late astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell has condemned plans by the Science and Technology Facilities Council to withdraw £2.8 million a year in funding for the e-MERLIN radio telescope network at Jodrell Bank after March 2028. His daughter Judy Spence urged decision-makers to visit the observatory and understand its scientific importance. The University of Manchester warned that without alternative funding, the Lovell Telescope may cease to operate as an active radio astronomy facility. UK Research and Innovation defended the decision as part of an evidence-based effort to prioritize long-term scientific value, while pointing to continued support for the Square Kilometre Array Observatory headquarters. The visitor centre and Jodrell Bank’s heritage status are not affected.

UK and international astronomers have condemned funding cuts that could end science operations at Jodrell Bank Observatory by March 2028 unless alternative support is found. The £2.8 million annual reduction is part of wider Science and Technology Facilities Council cuts affecting e-MERLIN and other UK-linked astronomy facilities. The Royal Astronomical Society and scientists including Jim Wild and Violette Impellizzeri say the savings are small compared with the loss of scientific expertise and international leadership. UK Research and Innovation defends the changes as an evidence-based prioritisation process, noting that e-MERLIN remains funded until March 2028 and that it continues to support Jodrell Bank through the Square Kilometre Array headquarters. The separate Jodrell Bank visitor centre is not at risk, and the University of Manchester has launched a donation appeal.

Council leaders from Cheshire have joined calls for the UK Government to preserve the £2.8 million annual grant supporting science at Jodrell Bank Observatory for another five years. UKRI plans to end funding for the e-MERLIN radio telescope network in March 2028, potentially ending deep-space observations at the site unless alternative funding is secured. The councils argue that Jodrell Bank and the Lovell Telescope are nationally significant scientific assets, while the Science and Technology Facilities Council says the decision followed an evidence-based prioritisation process and that investment in the site will continue through the Square Kilometre Array Observatory. Visitor activity, outreach and some research are not directly threatened, but the observatory's active scientific role could be substantially reduced.

A 17-year-old masked teenager was arrested after police pursued a stolen moped from Oldham to Middleton at speeds of up to 60mph, including travel on pavements. The moped crashed at a petrol station, allowing a second suspect to flee, but the teenager restarted the vehicle before being stopped in a cul-de-sac and detained by a police dog unit. He was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop, cannabis and offensive-weapon possession, aggravated vehicle taking, and involvement in a serious assault with intent to rob. Police recovered a machete, and investigations to identify the second suspect are continuing.

Adam Francis, 48, posed as a qualified mortgage adviser and defrauded four victims of just over £203,436 between February 2017 and August 2018. Working with a now-deceased accountant, he collected mortgage deposits, fees and solicitor payments while creating the appearance that legitimate mortgage and conveyancing work was under way. The victims discovered the deception when solicitors confirmed that their mortgages had not progressed and no money was held in client accounts. Francis pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation and was sentenced at Chester Crown Court to 25 months in prison, suspended for two years, with a rehabilitation requirement. Cheshire Police said none of the stolen money had been recovered.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has discontinued its formal investigation into a Metrolink tram derailment at Manchester Piccadilly on April 5, after finding no significant safety lessons justified continuing the probe. No one was injured and damage was minor. KeolisAmey Metrolink will investigate the incident, while RAIB has commissioned a university vehicle-dynamics study and will conduct an industry review, with the option to reopen its investigation if necessary. The likely safety lessons concern low-speed tram operation on tight curves in high wheel-rail adhesion conditions.

The Manchester Evening News has launched a campaign to preserve the scientific operation of Jodrell Bank’s Lovell Telescope after UK Research and Innovation decided not to continue prioritizing funding for the e-MERLIN array beyond March 2028. The University of Manchester, which manages the observatory, warns that the telescope could cease functioning as an active radio-astronomy facility and that 28 e-MERLIN-funded jobs could be lost, with up to 3,000 scientists potentially affected through knock-on effects. University leaders are seeking replacement support from government, industry, charities and philanthropists, while UKRI says the decision followed an evidence-based process focused on future facilities, including the SKAO headquarters hosted at Jodrell Bank. The observatory’s visitor and education centre is expected to remain open, but its research mission is at risk.

Jodrell Bank’s Lovell Telescope could cease operating as an active radio-astronomy instrument after March 2028 because UKRI and its Science and Technology Facilities Council are ending approximately £2.8 million a year in e-Merlin funding. The University of Manchester warns that 28 grant-funded jobs and research affecting around 3,000 scientists could be lost, although the visitor centre will remain open and investment in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory will continue. MPs Graham Stringer and Tim Roca are pressing the government and funding bodies for action, while the university seeks support from government, industry, charities and philanthropists. STFC says the withdrawal follows a wider prioritization exercise and budget pressures, but alternative funding arrangements may still be explored.

Omar Majed, 19, appeared by video link at Birmingham Crown Court after being charged with communicating false information to police over an alleged bomb hoax that led to the evacuation and cancellation of Peter Kay’s show at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on May 1. Majed was not arraigned because psychiatric reports are still required and will remain in custody until a September 30 pre-trial review; a trial is scheduled for November 3. West Midlands Police said searches found nothing suspicious. The disrupted performance was part of Kay’s Better Late Than Never tour, with proceeds intended for 12 cancer charities.

Mohammad Bashir, a 31-year-old man from Cheetham Hill with no previous criminal record, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years after pleading guilty to preparing a terrorist act targeting the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham. Police said Bashir and Jihad Al-Shamie had developed deep-rooted antisemitic and extremist beliefs, researched military sites and carried out reconnaissance at the academy, but found no evidence that Bashir knew about Al-Shamie's later attack on Heaton Park synagogue. That attack killed Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz before Al-Shamie was shot dead by police. Greater Manchester Police admitted a missed opportunity after failing to examine phones seized from Al-Shamie before the synagogue attack; independent reviews and an inquest are ongoing.

Three adults from the Jewish community suffered minor injuries after a BB gun was fired from a passing vehicle on Leicester Road in Salford. Greater Manchester Police arrested two suspects on suspicion of religiously aggravated common assault after CCTV enquiries, with assistance from Shomrim Greater Manchester. Campaign Against Antisemitism condemned the attack, praised police and community volunteers, and argued that extremism and antisemitism must be tackled at their source rather than through increased policing alone.

Emergency services established a large cordon in Middleton town centre after reports of a man on a building roof, leading to significant police and fire presence. Specialist rescue units were deployed and multiple roads and bus routes were diverted as crews responded. The fire service confirmed it was supporting a police‑led operation, with further details awaited from Greater Manchester Police.

Former Worsley MP Terry Lewis has died at age 90, prompting tributes from political figures in Salford and Bolton. Known as a staunch socialist and a dedicated constituency representative, he served as Labour MP from 1983 to 2005 and was recognised for challenging his party’s leadership and voting record. Colleagues praised his long service, commitment to working-class issues and strong local ties, while local officials shared condolences and recalled his contributions to both Salford and Bolton public life.

Police are investigating a reported sexual assault on a teenage girl in Victoria Park, Stretford, releasing a suspect description and appealing for witnesses or footage from the area. No arrests have been made, and patrols around the park are being increased as the investigation continues, with the victim receiving specialist support.

Elon Musk publicly supported Greater Manchester mayoral candidate Marlon West after the NHS suspended West over offensive social media posts relating to his daughter’s abuse. The Nursing and Midwifery Council imposed an 18‑month interim suspension while allegations are investigated. Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe criticised the timing as political interference and defended West’s statements on grooming gangs. West maintained his comments and pledged to prioritise tackling exploitation if elected.

A jury convicted Andrew Grierson of nine child sexual abuse offences committed between 1996 and 2004 in Wilmslow. Cheshire Police described him as a sexual predator who targeted a vulnerable girl. The victim’s testimony was central to the conviction after a complex investigation. Grierson was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court in October.

A 75-year-old man, Trevor Hilton, was found dead at Hargreaves House in Bolton, prompting a murder investigation by Greater Manchester Police. A woman, Samantha Nuttall, has been charged with murder and was due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court. Hilton’s family paid tribute to him as a kind and humorous man whose loss has deeply affected them. Police continue to investigate the incident, with forensic teams gathering evidence at the scene.

The coroner signalled that the inquest into the death of 13‑month‑old Preston Davey is likely to resume once Oldham Council completes a restarted safeguarding review expected in early 2027. The review was ordered due to new information revealed during the criminal trial that led to the convictions of adoptive parents Jamie Varley and John McGowan‑Fazakerley. The coroner indicated that an Article 2 inquest is likely, citing potential issues in the adoption process, emergency calls and hospital visits before the child's death. A full inquest is unlikely before autumn 2027, with further pre‑inquest hearings planned later in the year.