Greater Manchester has been given an extra £1 million in funding to help tackle the rise in violent crime across the region.
In a crucial attempt to help people leave a life of violent crime behind them, Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has received a significant funding boost to help it develop and trial a new programme in the city of Manchester and beyond.
Part of a wider £6 million joint investment, and expecting to take inspiration from a ‘focused deterrence’ strategy developed over in the US, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) explains that the new trial programme will attempt to identify the people most likely to be involved in violence and supports them to stop.
Previous projects have worked with children as young as 14 or 15.
Prior research has shown that focused deterrence strategies in other countries have been highly effective, and have reduced crime on average by 33%.
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"Greater Manchester’s VRU has received £1million in funding to develop and trial a new programme in the city of Manchester which aims to help people leave a life of violent crime behind them."
— Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (@GM_VRU) September 5, 2022
As the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) and Home Office are said to be investing in learning more about what impact focused deterrence could have in England, Greater Manchester’s VRU has been awarded £1 million to develop the trial programme and learn how it works to make Manchester safer.
It will bring together a number of different agencies and community groups, including Greater Manchester Police (GMP), housing providers, faith leaders and schools, to take a partnership approach to ending violence.
“I’m really pleased that the city of Manchester is set to receive this funding so we can trial a new, innovative approach that has achieved success in other countries in preventing people from committing violent crimes,” explained Bev Hughes – Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice, and fire.
Greater Manchester given £1 million in funding to tackle ‘violent crime’ in the region / Credit: GMP
“If this project is able to impact just one person in the city of Manchester, then it has potentially saved a life.
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“This will build on the work our Violence Reduction Unit is already carrying out across our city region to engage with people and prevent these terrible crimes from being committed as we see far too often the devastating consequences they have on our communities and those who lose loved ones to shocking incidents which are sadly preventable.
“We must do all we can to tackle these issues, and this approach which combines support with swift enforcement action, is another way we can now do that.”
However, the Prime Minister insists the block was simply an attempt to protect the party, arguing that it would have diverted focus and resources away from other issues, whilst insisting that what Burnham does after his run as the region’s mayor is “a matter for Andy”.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE
This is the letter Labour activists in Gorton and Denton are sending to Sir Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood
They are demanding the NEC reverses its decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the by-election in their seat
As per The Telegraph, Starmer went on to add that he believes his former colleague (the PM worked under Burnham back in 2015) is doing “a first-class job” in local government.
The 56-year-old was first elected Mayor for Greater Manchester back in 2017 before winning re-election back in both 2021 and May of 2024.
His current tenure is set to end around the same time in 2028, but with many touting for the ‘King of the North’ as a potential leadership replacement ahead of the next general election – which must take place no later than 15 August 2029 – a prospective return to Parliament could be next on the cards.
Those who signed the letter going against Keir stated that he had “no legitimate reason” to prevent such a move against Burnham and said that Labour’s governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), should reassess and ultimately reconsider.
It remains to be seen whether the outcome will change either way.
The internal saga has sparked quite the debate
As for the Aintree-born politician, after already admitting that he was “disappointed” by the decision, he also rubbished suggestions that he knew about the move to block him prior to the event, calling the reports “completely untrue” and simply made no sense.
Following up in another post on social media, he shared the latest update from Downing Street itself, which reads: “No one in Number 10 told Andy Burnham not to apply to the NEC for permission to stand or gave any indication to him which sought to prejudge the NEC officers’ deliberation or decision.”
Once again, only time will tell whether or not the letter objecting to Burnham’s return to standing for a constituency or any other Parliamentary role will see any watershed.
Police appeal after Salford woman, 95, threatened by window cleaner in her own home
Emily Sergeant
Police are appealing for information after an elderly woman was threatened inside her own home during an attempted robbery.
Around 11am yesterday morning (27 January), officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Salford division responded to reports that a woman had cash demanded from her at an address on Belcroft Drive in Little Hulton.
It is believed that a man entered the property after offering to clean the woman’s – who police have confirmed is 95-years-old – windows, before tying her hands together, and then demanding her cash and purse.
The man’s efforts were disrupted when another woman who knew the victim arrived at the house, and thankfully because of this, no injuries were reported and the victim is being supported by officers.
The man fled the scene, and no arrests have been made at this time.
This is why police are now appealing to the public for any information that they may have that could help with their investigation while extensive enquires are ongoing – including any CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage from around the area at the time.
Investigators attended the scene and gathered evidence, which is currently being assessed and acted upon, but are also keen to speak to anyone who saw anything ‘suspicious’.
The man who committed the offence was described as white male, approximately in his late 60s or early 70s, with short mousy brown hair combed back, no facial hair, glasses, appeared well-kempt, and was wearing a dark raincoat jacket, jeans, and dark-coloured shoes.
“This was a vile incident in which a woman was tied up and threatened, and we are determined to locate the man responsible,” commented Detective Inspector Paul Davies, from GMP’s Salford district.
“Thankfully, this was not a more serious situation and we commend the brave actions of the lady’s friend who confronted the man and called officers. As we progress this investigation, we are appealing for anyone with any information to please come forward.”
Can you help? Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1082 of 27/01/26, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
6th September 2022 
