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Council leader calls for ‘compassion and solidarity’ after protests in Manchester

"There is no place for hate in our city."

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 6th August 2024

The leader of Manchester City Council has called for “compassion and solidarity” after protests across the country.

After a weekend that saw widespread far-right protests and counter demonstrations in towns and cities throughout the UK – predominantly here in the north, and in Greater Manchester – following the devastating killing of three young girls and the injuring of several others during a knife attack in the Merseyside seaside town of Southport at the end of last month, the leader of Manchester City Council insists disorder “will not be tolerated in our streets”.

Cllr Bev Craig says there is “no place for hate” in Manchester.

Hundreds of people have been detained and arrested by police nationwide over last few days following the riots – including 19 people in Manchester city centre, according to GMP.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called an emergency COBRA meeting in response to the ongoing unrest, and said his Government “utterly condemns the far-right thuggery” displayed, adding that “those who participated in this violence will face the full force of the law.”

And now, Manchester’s Council leader has had her say.

Addressing the Manchester public in a statement, and calling for “compassion and solidarity” moving forwards, Cllr Bev Craig wrote: “We know that our communities will be feeling understandably anxious and uneasy, but we would like to reassure our residents that we will not tolerate disorder in our streets.   

“Manchester’s diversity is our strength, and it is now more important than ever that we support one another with compassion, understanding and solidarity.

Council leader Bev Craig has called for ‘compassion and solidarity’ after protests in Manchester this past weekend / Credit: GMP

“I am deeply conscious that some of our communities, especially minority communities, are anxious about discrimination, abuse, anti-Muslim sentiment and racism, much of which is playing out on social media, alongside misinformation and other forms of hate.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their community, and we will continue to work with colleagues at GMP to monitor local concerns and make sure that Manchester remains a welcoming and safe place.

“As such, there will be an increased police presence in our neighbourhoods, and we want to be clear that officers are there primarily to provide visibility and reassurance.”

Looking ahead to how the region plans to manage the situation going forward, Cllr Craid added: “We fully support GMP in taking robust action against anyone who is intent on bringing violence to our city.

“Swift action is needed to bring people to justice, and we would also like to thank Council staff, officers at GMP, and other partners who helped to keep Manchester safe this weekend under very challenging circumstances.”

Cllr Craig closed out her statement insisting that “there is no justification for criminal behaviour”.

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“The actions of the perpetrators undermine everything that Manchester stands for,” she added. “We are proud to be a vibrant, tolerant, and accepting place – and we know there is more that unites us than divides us.

“Now is the time we come together to show what this means.”

Featured Image – GMP

News

Urgent appeal issued following serious road traffic collision involving motorcyclist on M60

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant M60 near Denton

An urgent appeal has been issued following a serious road traffic collision on the M60.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are appealing for information and dash-cam footage, as well as urging witnesses to come forward, after a motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries during a collision on the M60 this past Saturday (12 July).

Shortly after 1:40pm, police were called a report of a collision involving a motorbike on the anti-clockwise side of the motorway, between junctions 25 and 24.

When patrols responded and arrived on the scene, they found a man in his 50s – believed to be the motorcyclist – with life-threatening injuries, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment in an air ambulance, with his family being informed in the process.

An urgent appeal has been issued following a serious road traffic collision involving motorcyclist on the M60 / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The M60 was closed in one direction, between Bredbury and Denton, following the crash from around 2:30pm onwards, and all traffic was diverted while investigations were ongoing.

GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is in the process of conducting enquiries, and at this time, it isn’t believed that any other vehicle was involved in this incident.

This is why police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who has dash-cam footage, to get in on contact.

Police have also thanked the members of the public who stopped by the roadside to give the man initial first aid before emergency services arrived.

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Anyone with information or footage should contact GMP on 0161 856 4741, quoting incident 1903 of 12/07/2025.

Details can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – Mikey (via Flickr)

News

Police issue update on Oasis arrests and fence-jumpers

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Police issue update on Oasis arrests and fence-jumpers

Greater Manchester Police have shared an update on the arrests made at the opening two nights of Oasis Live ’25.

More than 100,000 people have flocked up to Heaton Park on Friday and Saturday evening for the first two of five Oasis reunion shows.

And largely, things have gone without a hitch, with only 15 arrests made so far.

The majority of these are arrests on suspicion of fraud, with five men and a woman in three separate incidents attempting to access the Oasis gig with fake accreditation.

Another man was arrests on suspicion of assaulting a member of security staff.

Two more men were arrested on suspicion of assault – a section 18 inside the Oasis gig at Heaton Park, and another for a section 47 outside.

Police have also said that ‘a number of people’ have attempted to access the gigs without tickets, with a perimeter gate breached on Saturday night, but ‘failed to do so’.

Five drones which breached airspace restrictions were seized on Friday.

A Section 34 Dispersal Order, which gives officers the power to direct individuals to leave a specified area and not return for 48 hours, has been in place for each night of the Oasis concerts so far.

This will be re-assessed before each concert this week, with the Gallagher brothers back at Heaton Park on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

GMP around Manchester ahead of the Oasis reunion shows. Credit: GMP
GMP around Manchester ahead of the Oasis reunion shows. Credit: GMP

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle said: “We have been planning for these events for several months, working with partners and the organisers to make sure everyone can enjoy the concerts safely. To that end, I’m pleased to say that the first two Oasis homecoming events have been a success.

“What has been especially pleasing is how more than 100,000 people have enjoyed these iconic events safely and without trouble.

“We will have a highly visible presence in and around Heaton Park, and across the city, to ensure the next three events continue to pass safely.

“A number of people without tickets attempted to gain entry through a perimeter gate on Saturday night but failed to do so.

Police issue update on Oasis arrests and fence-jumpers
Credit: The Manc Group
Police issue update on Oasis arrests and fence-jumpers
Credit: Tiktok benwalkerofficial
Police say ‘just 15’ arrests made at Oasis so far

“We continue to support the event organisers and the local authority with their plans preventing any unauthorised access to the arena site.

“While arrests have thankfully been minimal, we have had to take some suspects to custody, including one after an alleged assault on a steward on Saturday night. We will not tolerate any abuse of anyone doing their job.

“On Friday night we also dealt with a number of breaches of airspace restrictions involving drones where our officers seized five drones and spoke to two other pilots.

“We continue to have airspace restrictions in place on the nights of the concerts and anyone found breaching the one-and-a-half-mile restriction zone could face prosecution.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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