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10 arrested after police bust ‘unassuming’ cannabis farm with hundreds of plants in Tameside

"Every cannabis farm we destroy helps break the vicious cycle."

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 20th June 2023

10 men have been arrested after police busted a huge cannabis inside an “unassuming row of terraced houses” in Tameside.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) revealed that, in the early hours of yesterday morning (19 June), officers from the Tameside district lined-up in front of properties across Whitacre Road and Curzon Road in Ashton-under-Lyne, all ready to “smash through the doors” after being supported by Home Office Immigration Enforcement in executing six simultaneous warrants to do so.

Behind the doors of the “unassuming row of terraced houses”, police discovered over 400 cannabis plants, and went on two make a series of arrests.

10 arrested after police bust ‘unassuming’ cannabis farm with hundreds of plants in Tameside / Credit: GMP

A total of 10 men, all between the ages of 22 and 44, were arrested – with three on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, money laundering, and immigration offences, three on suspicion of being concerned in the production of cannabis, and one on suspicion of being concerned in the production of cannabis and possession of class A and B drugs.

One man was also arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis, abstracting electricity, and immigration offences, while the final two men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

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Each of the arrested men remain in police custody for questioning.

“We understand the public have varying views on cannabis,” explained Chief Inspector Claire Galt of GMP Tameside’s district after the raids.

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“But its cultivation, sale, and distribution brings devastation to our communities in the form of violence and exploitation.

“The amount of energy required for a cannabis farm of this size mean the criminals bypass the electricity supply to avoid paying for it. This causes a significant fire hazard to those who are forced to live and work there, but also innocent members of the public in neighbouring properties are also put at risk because of these brazen and careless criminals.

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“Every cannabis farm we destroy helps break the vicious cycle.

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“The plants won’t end up on the street, the profits won’t go to fund other crime, and vulnerable people who are being taken advantage of by these gangs can be safeguarded.”

Featured Image – GMP

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Salford murder victim named and pictured after human remains found

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The victim at the heart of a Salford murder investigation launched after human remains were found has been named as Stuart Everett, 67.

The victim of a major murder investigation in Salford has been named and pictured by police.

Detectives are ‘confident’ that the victim is Stuart Everett, 67, though formal identification is yet to take place.

A major investigation was launched on 4 April after body parts wrapped in plastic were found in Kersal Dale.

Further human remains were then discovered at Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood over last weekend.

DNA samples have been sent away for urgent forensic analysis, after which the victim’s identity will be formally confirmed.

Stuart’s family are being supported by specially-trained GMP officers.

GMP said: “In the last 48 hours they have heard the most devastating news that anyone could hear, and our thoughts remain with them as they begin to process this.”

Two men have been charged with murder and will appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning.

A large police presence will continue to be deployed around Salford as GMP looks to recover more evidence.

The remains found at the other three locations in Salford are still to be tested, but GMP says it is ‘confident’ that they belong to the same victim.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “My thoughts and the thoughts of officers and staff across Greater Manchester Police are with Stuart’s family at this traumatic time. Family Liaison Officers are supporting them through each update in our investigation.

“On behalf of Stuart’s loved ones, I ask the public and the press to please respect their wishes for peace and privacy while they process this most devastating news. 

“My officers and detectives, alongside additional resources from across the force, have worked tirelessly over the last three days to secure charges.

“We are grateful for the public’s continued help and support throughout this case. We understand the shockwaves this has caused throughout the community and beyond, and we hope you are reassured by the pace of our investigation and also our large police presence in the areas as we continue to make enquiries.

“We have officers drawn from different teams and units in GMP who have helped us search and their efforts do not go unnoticed, and they have all played an important role to help us get to this stage in our investigation.

“We said right at the start that our investigation will not stop until we have every stone unturned, and this continues to be the case. Our investigation has been a huge process so far, and we will continue to push forward in our enquiries to find answers for Stuart’s family.”

Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder. They are due to appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning (30 April 2024).

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Featured image: GMP

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Premier League agrees new spending cap after ‘majority of clubs’ vote in favour

Danny Jones Danny Jones Premier League clubs agree vote for new spending cap

The Premier League has reached an agreement in principle on a new spending cap for all teams as the English top flight looks to replace the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Set to be installed from the 2025/26 season onwards once fully ratified, revised spending limits will placed on teams in the first division, the number for which will be calculated in relation to a multiple of the money earned in prize money and TV rights by the lowest-earning club in the Premier League.

If approved at the AGM (annual general meeting) this June, the new model will replace the existing PSR system under which multiple clubs have broken FFP and been charged with other breaches over recent years, with Everton and Nottingham Forest having already been deducted points this season.

Although 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs reportedly agreed to the newly proposed regulations, four clubs were not in favour, with Manchester City, Man United and Aston Villa all said to have voted against the decision, while Chelsea chose to abstain.

The proposed spending cap wouldn’t come into effect until the 2025/26 Premier League season.

The new max-spending model is being referred to as ‘anchoring’ or ‘tethering’, which will take into account total amounts spent on buying players, weekly wages, agents’ fees and more.

If successful following a final vote in June and brought through the season after next, the aim is to curb the increasing financial gap between the top and bottom of the table by preventing things like big sponsorships which may otherwise see clubs assert massive spending power during transfer windows.

According to the Independent, cost controls will now “limit club expenditure on salaries, signing and fees to 85 per cent of total revenue” for those not competing in European competitions.

This comes after Premier League teams previously the latest UEFA rules that will see those playing in the likes of the Champions, Europa and Conference League only allowed to spend 70% of that revenue, given the added financial uplift from qualifying for these tournaments.

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While 16 yeas were enough to see the initial vote move forward, it will only require 14 out of 20 clubs to agree to the rule change in June for the motion to be fully passed.

A Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) spokesperson said: “We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages.

“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”

It will be interesting to see how these new rules will factor into the wider decision-making regarding Man City, with 115 breaches of UEFA’s FFP regulations still looming over the City Football Group.

What punishment could Manchester City face for FFP breaches?
Over a year on and they’re not closer to finding out their fate.

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Featured Images — SonoGrazy (via Wikimedia Commons)

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