News

‘Awful’ Northern Quarter premises shut down by police after hosting repeated ‘COVID parties’

The apartment, described by neighbours as an 'awful Airbnb party house', had allegedly hosted parties from Friday to Sunday until four in the morning right through lockdown.

The Manc The Manc - 26th August 2020

Greater Manchester Police have swooped in to shut down a premises in Northern Quarter following a long-running series of ‘COVID parties’ that have kept residents awake throughout the night.

The apartment, described by neighbours as an ‘awful Airbnb party house’, had allegedly hosted gatherings from Friday to Sunday until four in the morning right through lockdown.

Anti-social behaviour has continued despite tighter restrictions in the Greater Manchester region, and police have now issued a closure notice – which can prohibit access to anyone except the legal owner and/or tenant.

GMP confirmed that the site had been shut down Tuesday (25 August) evening.

Posting on their official city centre Twitter account, police stated: “A Closure Notice has been served on a premises in the NQ that has allowed numerous COVID parties to take place, with residents and businesses having to deal with the associated ASB [anti-social behaviour].

ADVERTISEMENT

“Fantastic partnership working with ourselves and the Council ASBAT team.”

Mass gatherings and parties have persisted in Greater Manchester despite the ban on mass gatherings and meeting other households indoors or in gardens.

ADVERTISEMENT

Earlier this month, police shared footage of 200 people congregating at a property in Gorton – which was subsequently closed for three months as a result.

A fixed penalty notice was also issued to the tenant.

Huge ‘quarantine raves’ have also been organised in the likes of Daisy Nook and Carrington.

ADVERTISEMENT

Under new legislation, police will have the power to issue fines up to £10,000 to the organisers of any illegal parties of more than 30 people.

Those in attendance without face coverings could also be hit with penalties of £100 – doubling up to £3,200 for each repeat offence.

News

Body of woman found in River Mersey last year finally identified after ‘extensive’ investigation

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Laura Stanley

The body of woman who was found in the River Mersey last year has finally been identified.

Following what has been described as an ‘extensive investigation’ by Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team to determine the identity of the body, which was sadly discovered in the river adjacent to Chorlton Water Park on 21 March 2024, the family of the victim has now been informed and supported by specialist officers.

The victim has been formally named as 38-year-old Laura Stanley, who was originally from Derbyshire but was living in Stockport. 

After the body was discovered, and ‘exhaustive and determined’ investigation by GMP officers began to identify here, including detailed checks of both national and international databases.

Police release facial reconstruction image of mystery woman whose body was found in River Mersey

The Major Incident Team (MIT) also closely worked in collaboration with specialist forensic service providers to create an anthropological profile, which eventually culminated in the creation of a facial reconstruction image.

Following several media appeals, a relative of Laura contacted officers and then a DNA match was confirmed through a familial link.

“Laura was a kind and gentle person with a great sense of fun and adventure,” Laura’s family said in a heartbreaking tribute to her.

“She was generous, thoughtful, caring and always keen to volunteer within the community. Laura was a proud and loving mum and she will be greatly missed by her girls and all of her friends and family who loved her dearly.”

The River Mersey, across from Chorlton Water Park, where Laura’s body was discovered / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

While Laura has now been identified, police say further investigations will take place to understand her last movements, the events that led to her death, and her discovery in the river.

Additionally, as is standard practice, GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate is also reviewing a previous missing report relating to Laura in the time before the discovery of her body, which will determine prior contact relating to Laura, and whether the appropriate measures were enacted.

Anyone who knew Laura and thinks they may be able to assist with the investigation is asked to contact police by calling 101, or by using the Live Chat Service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log number 1191 of 21 March 2024.

Alternatively, you can contact the Major Incident Team Syndicate 3 directly on 0161 856 9479, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Read more:

It is currently believed that Laura was last seen around January 2024.

Featured Image – GMP

News

More than 70,000 home buyers set to pay thousands after missing stamp duty relief deadline

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant New build houses

More than 70,000 home buyers across England are estimated to have missed the stamp duty relief deadline.

This sadly means they’ll be required to fork out thousands of pounds extra.

In case you hadn’t heard, up until yesterday (31 March 2025), anyone who was moving and had bought a home in the past was not required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, better-known as just stamp duty, on the portion of the property price up to £250,000.

But from today (1 April), this threshold has now fallen back to £125,000, which unfortunately means that property purchasers are facing an extra £2,500 in moving costs, on average.

While the end of the stamp duty relief will mostly affect those Greater Manchester buyers who had already previously purchased properties, first time buyers are sadly not exempt from the deadline changes too, as their current stamp duty threshold of £425,000 has now fallen back to £300,000 as of today.

Keys to a new house
Person holding the keys to a new house in their hand / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)

Given that the average property price for a first time buyer-type home is currently around £227,965, according to Rightmove, the new £300,000 threshold may hit those purchasing properties in more expensive areas – particularly the South East.

A third of those estimated 70,000 home buyers who have missed the deadline are thought to be first time buyers.

Leading property platform Rightmove published an analysis in February into just how much of an impact the end of the stamp duty relief would have on home buyers, all while calling on the UK Government to announce a short extension to the deadline to help people in the middle of the property purchasing process avoid potentially thousands of pounds in extra moving costs.

But despite these calls from industry leaders, there was no extension to the deadline announced in the last week’s latest Spring Statement.

Read more:

“It’s extremely disappointing that the Government has not used the Spring Statement as an opportunity to extend the impending stamp duty deadline for those currently going through the home-moving process,” commented Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock.

“We estimate over 70,000 people are going to miss the deadline and complete in April instead, and a third of those are first time buyers.”

Featured Image – James Feaver (via Unsplash)

More News

Aitch is funding a temporary SYPS statue in place of the Vimto statue in Manchester

Art & Culture

Manchester’s iconic Vimto statue to be removed for repair – with Aitch-sponsored sculpture in its place

Art & Culture

Elbow teams up with Co-op Live to donate equipment to Manchester grassroots venues

Crime

Police launch investigation after a 19-year-old is stabbed in broad daylight at an Oldham retail park

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches