Manhunt underway as teenage girl sexually assaulted in alleyway
Salford's Chief Inspector said, 'We are committed to keeping people safe in our communities across Salford, and I can reassure the public that we are doing everything we can to reinforce this.'
Greater Manchester Police are on the hunt for a man who sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Salford and are appealing for anyone who might have information to come forward.
Police were called to the Broughton area of Salford around 8:30pm on Sunday, 3 December following reports that a teenage girl had been the victim of sexual assault believed to have taken place in an alleyway between Howe and Back Howe Street.
The young female is said to have been approached by a man, described as a white male dressed in all black with a black face covering, who followed her down the alleyway and caught up with her, threatening and assaulting her before he is thought to have fled the scene.
The attacker is believed to run towards Great Clowes Street following the incident and the local authorities are still trying to trace him, with any and all information into the inquiry from members of the public welcome.
Chief Inspector Lucy Smallwood, of GMP’s Salford district, said: “We do not underestimate the considerable concern this will cause for the community and I want to stress that this incident is being treated with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We are leaving no stone unturned in trying to establish the full circumstances around what happened and have a full team of detectives within our Crime Investigation Department making enquiries over the coming days.”
Urging “anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area around 8.20pm on Sunday 3 December to come forward”, she assured that any details passed on “will be treated with the strictest confidence.”
ADVERTISEMENT
She also went on to “thank the victim for her bravery and co-operation so far, and remind people that the best support they can provide at this time is to share with us any information that could be relevant to our investigation.
“We are committed to keeping people safe in our communities across Salford, and I can reassure the public that we are doing everything we can to reinforce this.
Anyone who thinks they might have information that could help, no matter how small it may be, should contact the police on 0161 856 5187, quoting incident 2920 of 3/12/2023.
ADVERTISEMENT
Alternatively, details can also be passed on completely anonymously to the UK’s independent crime prevention charity, Crimestoppers, either online or on 0800 555 111.
Transport Secretary commits to ‘transformational’ rail deal with Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The Transport Secretary has signed a ‘transformational’ rail deal for Greater Manchester.
The Government has formally agreed to work with Greater Manchester and Mayor Andy Burnham on plans for a new railway connecting Liverpool and Manchester, via Warrington, as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
The new Liverpool-Manchester line is said to underpin the Northern Growth Corridor – which is a bold strategy to drive growth from the Mersey to the Pennines, stretching into Yorkshire, Lancashire, North Wales, and beyond – with a key connection at Manchester Airport.
Local analysis has suggested that the new line could generate around £90 billion in additional revenue by 2040.
Also, as part of the major investment of up to £45 billion – which was announced a couple of weeks back, and is tipped to transform rail travel across the North – the Government has also said it will work with Greater Manchester partners to explore an underground option at Manchester Piccadilly station, recognising its potential as a ‘catalyst for growth’.
Local leaders say they are keen to demonstrate how an underground station could turn Piccadilly into a ‘Kings Cross of the North’.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander met with Mayor Andy Burnham last week to sign the formal agreement.
The agreement recognises the potential for an underground solution at Manchester Piccadilly, while also acknowledging the need for further ‘testing’ to make sure it will deliver value for money, and additionally sets out how the Government will work with Greater Manchester on the wider NPR scheme – which will be delivered in three stages, with the Liverpool-Manchester line to be built in the second phase.
The Transport Secretary has committed to a ‘transformational’ rail deal with Greater Manchester / Credit: TfGM (Supplied)
A formal review of the underground option at Manchester Piccadilly is to be lead by local leaders and senior civil servants.
“I’ve strengthened this Government’s clear and unwavering commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail by signing an agreement with Mayor Burnham on the next steps for transforming connectivity in Greater Manchester,” explained Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander.
“With a new line between Manchester and Liverpool at the heart of our plans, alongside new stations at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, we will unlock new opportunities, more jobs and more housing for thousands of people.
“By providing early clarity on scope and phasing, we are giving Greater Manchester the certainty it needs to plan ahead and unlock the full economic and social benefits for its people.”
Featured Image – GMCA
News
Police appeal after Manchester city centre shooting sees six arrested and one injured
Emily Sergeant
Police are appealing to the public for information after a shooting in Manchester city centre over the weekend.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to reports of a disturbance on Richmond Street at around 5am this past Saturday morning (24 January 2026), and upon arriving at the address, discovered that an adult male had an injury to his leg which was consistent with a gunshot wound.
The man, who has not been named, was been taken to hospital with injuries, but they have been described as ‘non-life threatening’ and ‘non-life changing’.
Following the incident, a police investigation was launched straight away.
Six men, all aged between 23 and 26-years-old, have all been arrested on suspicion of affray and firearms offences, and remain in police custody for questioning at this time while investigations are ongoing.
Superintendent Stephen Wiggins, from GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said he understands this will be a ‘concerning incident’ for the whole of Greater Manchester.
“Once the call came in, our officers acted quickly, making to the scene to establish what had unfolded at the address on Richmond Street, detaining six individuals who we believe had been involved, and we managed to recover a firearm at the address.
“I would like to reassure the community that we believe this is a targeted incident, and there is no wider threat to the general public.”
GMP is now appealing to the public for witnesses, or anyone with information, CCTV, or dashcam footage that could assist the investigation, and is urging them to contact police on 0161 856 4259 or 101, quoting log 600 of 24/01/2026.
You can also report information via LiveChat on the GMP website, or through Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Danny Jones -
5th December 2023 
