Police have reinvested more than £15 million in cash seized from criminals back into local communities across Manchester.
Over the last financial year, Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Economic Crime Unit – which is made up of police officers, detectives, and other additional staff – have together recovered a whopping total of £15,163,436.27 of ‘criminal’ money.
The Economic Crime Unit is tasked with dealing with complex investigations relating to serious fraud, money laundering, and the confiscating of the finances of those that have profited from crime in Greater Manchester – with each of the teams working within the unit specialising in targeting criminals’ cash in the journey from its seizure, to the recovery of funds in court.
Some of the teams who work as part of the Economic Crime Unit include the dedicated ‘Money Laundering Team’, the ‘Account Freezing Order’ team, the ‘Asset Detention and Recovery’ team, and the ‘Restraint and Confiscation’ team.
#NEWS |Criminal cash given back to communities as we seize over £15 million in the last tax year 💰
The unit is made up of a number of teams who target criminal cash in the journey from the seizure of cash to the recovery of these funds in court.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 10, 2024
By working together as a team, each with a dedicated task at hand, this has meant that the Economic Crime Unit has broken records in the sheer volume of cash it has seized and then recovered for the force throughout this past year.
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The seized funds are then used as Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) funding to benefit the local communities across our region.
Detective Inspector Sarah Langley, of GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, described the amount of criminal cash seized this financial year as a “significant achievement” for the region, as it not only “disrupts criminals as they look to line their pockets with illicit cash” but it also “directly benefits” communities across Greater Manchester as these funds are being reinvested into “vital” community programmes and services.
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£15 million of ‘criminal cash’ seized by police has been reinvested back into Manchester’s communities / Credit: GMP
“It’s fitting that we recover the money from those individuals who have profited from crime for their own selfish gain, and will now be used to improve our communities in Greater Manchester by giving the funding to those who need it the most,” DI Langley explained.
“Over the last year, we have worked hard to dismantle several criminal networks engaged in money laundering, fraud, and other financial crimes.”
DI Langley said the reinvestment of the seized funds is “so satisfying”.
She continued: “This year we have recovered over £15 million, and a significant amount has been put back into Greater Manchester, and it’s so satisfying when we can see that our hard work has a difference on the communities we serve.
“This encourages us to get even more money this next financial year.”
Featured Image – GMP
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World’s biggest street dance battle to host UK grand final in Manchester next month
Emily Sergeant
The UK grand final of the biggest street dance battle event in the world will be taking place in Manchester this summer.
And some serious shapes will be thrown… we presume.
That’s right, Red Bull Dance Your Style, which is the biggest street dance battle event in the world, is set to host the UK final of its championships in an exciting new location this year – and that exciting new location is right here in Manchester.
Happening down at Freight Island in the heart of the city centre towards the end of next month, the renowned international mixed-style competition – which has been running since 2019 – celebrates the wide variety of impressive dance talent across the UK, and sees dancers attempt to excite audiences with their interpretation of loads of different music genres.
The world’s biggest street dance battle is hosting its UK grand final in Manchester / Credit: Red Bull Dance
This unique and fast-paced competition is open to all genders, and hopes to “unify dancers and spectators alike” through 16 rounds of one-on-one freestyle dance.
Hip Hop, Locking, Voguing, and Krumping are just a handful of dance styles that’ll be on show.
On the road to the UK grand final, Red Bull Dance Your Style has been pulling up in cities nationwide to host open auditions, including in Swindon, Edinburgh, and here in Manchester – with the last open audition being held in London on Saturday 13 July.
All successful qualifiers from these auditions will attend the final UK showdown in our city.
It’s all gearing up to be an “electric crescendo”, as finalists battle it out for their chance to compete in the at the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final in Mumbai later this year.
The UK Final of Red Bull Dance Your Style 2024 is taking place at Freight Island on Saturday 27 July, and if you fancy popping along, you can grab some tickets to the event here.
Featured Image – Supplied
News
Manchester reveals plans to mark Armed Forces Day 2024 with ‘poignant’ military parade next weekend
Emily Sergeant
Plans to mark Armed Forces Day 2024 with a “poignant” military parade in Manchester next weekend have been revealed.
As the country prepares to honour Armed Forces Week – which is taking place this year from Monday 24 June, right through to Saturday (29 June) – and show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, Manchester has revealed how our city will mark the annual event next weekend.
Armed Forces Week sees Brits celebrate those who are currently serving troops, their families, serving reservists, veterans, and cadets.
Manchester will also be paying tribute to the hundreds who have “fearlessly served”.
Manchester has revealed its plans to mark Armed Forces Day with a ‘poignant’ military parade / Credit: LCC | MoD
To mark the start of Armed Forces Week, the Armed Forces Flag is always raised on buildings and famous landmarks across the UK, and here in Manchester city centre, Manchester City Council has confirmed that the flag will be raised above Manchester Central Library on Monday 24 June at 10:30am.
Armed Forces Day 2024 itself is to be marked in our city with a formal commemoration and free public event on Saturday 29 June in St Peter’s Square.
Beginning at 11am and running through to 4pm, the Council has stated that the formal celebrations are to begin from 11:30am with a military parade and “poignant” performances from the Lancashire Artillery Band, before visitors of all ages are invited to gather together in the heart of the city centre centre to show their support.
The free public event takes place in St Peter’s Square next Saturday 29 June / Credit: Mark Owens (via MoD on Flickr)
There’ll be live music throughout the day, as well as face painting for little Mancs, the chance to see an Army Light Gun on display, and, in another “celebratory nod”, specially-selected information stalls will also be in attendance to give visitors a look into the history of life in the Armed Forces.
“Commemorating Armed Forces Week and Day is a chance to remember the selfless and heroic sacrifices of thousands of service men and women in our community,” commented the city’s new Lord Mayor ahead of next week.
“We have a rich history of recognising the efforts of the Armed Forces in Manchester, and this day is only a continuation in acknowledging their feats both past and present.”
Emily Sergeant -
11th June 2024 
