The family of Cameron Brooksbank have paid a heartbreaking tribute after the final episode of the BBC’s latest The Detectives docuseries aired last night.
Cameron’s tragic story has been explored in the latest iteration of the BBC’s hugely-successful documentary series, The Detectives – which follows Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) team of detectives as they try to unravel complex organised crime cases across Greater Manchester, giving “unparalleled” and “intimate” access along the way.
The first season was praised its exceptional coverage of live police investigations.
Now, back for round two, the final episode of the three-part second season of the show – which is titled The Detectives: Taking Down an OGC – aired on BBC Two last night.
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During last night’s episode, viewers saw that, following the discovery of a new witness in the axe-attack attempted murder case, victim Cameron and detectives from the Rochdale Organised Crime Team had to, once again, face suspected members of the ADAM Organised Crime Group (OCG) in court, and as the investigation into the wider activities of the gang began building to a tense conclusion, detectives had to focus on taking down the most senior suspected gang members.
TV cameras followed a series of simultaneous raids as the police attempted to dismantle the OCG once and for all.
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Following the airing of the final episode last night, the family of Cameron Brooksbank have paid a heartbreaking tribute to the teenage victim.
A tribute from the family of Cameron Brooksbank following #TheDetectives#BBC2 documentary
"We are extremely proud of Cameron’s bravery and that his personal story will hopefully help raise some much-needed awareness around this topic."
The tribute reads: “This has been the most terrible time for our family, but we are just one, of many, that are being supported by GMP, who are constantly being destroyed by these cruel, merciless drug gangs.
“Everyone can see first-hand how these members proactively target children into drug misuse and debt to become modern-day slaves.
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“The bravery of the officers who put their lives on the line must never be taken for granted, they have been so caring and comforting. Martin, Mark, and their team have been wonderful, so we want to thank all concerned for everything they have done for our family and the wider borough. We thank them for their tenderness with Cameron, who was only 17 at the time of the attack, and the subsequent friendships that followed.”
Family of Cameron Brooksbank pay tribute after the BBC’s latest The Detectives documentary airs / Credit: GMP
The family went on to thank the series’ producers, who they said “carried [them] throughout this tragic and frightening journey”, and also thank the public for all the “kind words and praise for our special son and grandson”.
They described Cameron’s death as having “created such a huge and painful void in our lives”.
But, despite this, the family’s tribute concluded: “We are extremely proud of Cameron’s bravery and that his personal story will hopefully help raise some much-needed awareness around this topic.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Middleton to receive a cinema and Metrolink as part of regeneration plans
Thomas Melia
Greater Manchester town Middleton is about to undergo a huge facelift thanks to a new regeneration project, including a new cinema and Metrolink tram station.
Middleton is one of many bustling communities that make up the borough of Rochdale, and with these new plans, the town might receive a fair few new visitors who want to know what it’s all about.
The Greater Manchester town is undergoing a huge transformation with regeneration plans confirming that Middleton will receive a brand new cinema complex along with an extended Metrolink line as part of the Bee Network expansion covering this area.
This is all thanks to Middleton teaming up with the Mayor to launch the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which pushes forward regeneration plans for the town and future ideas.
Middleton Shopping Centre right in the heart of the town centre.Middleton Town Centre bustling as the markets take place.Credit: Steven Haslington (via Geograph)/@Rept0n1x (via Flickr)
The MDC considers lots of aspects of the town and even aims to create new homes and improve surrounding public spaces.
Middleton regeneration plans have been floated previously, but complications arose due to a lack of land and available funding, which ultimately brought these foundations to a halt.
Now it seems the green light has been lifted and Middleton is about to get a whole new facelift, which will not only improve the town economically but aesthetically too, along with the wider Rochdale region.
For many Middletonians, the idea of a cinema may have felt like a distant memory, with their last big screen location shutting down just over a decade ago.
This all-new high street regeneration will not only bring an array of shopping favourites back to the town centre but also the long-awaited return of a local cinema. Most importantly, the plans also include a slate of new housing, with an estimated 300 apartments set to be created in one building alone.
Early CGIs of the proposed Middleton regeneration plans.Grade II-listed Warwick Mill looks set to be turned into flats.Credit: Publicity Picture (supplied)
This all falls in line with the ‘Atom Valley scheme‘, which has been commissioned in order to generate over 20,000 job opportunities for people in Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.
The scheme also mentions how it aims to bring a combined economic boost of around £1 billion to these previously mentioned areas.
Rochdale Borough Council leader, Neil Emmott, said: “The development of 1.2 million square metres of employment space around the junction 19 area will help to generate 20,000 high-quality jobs and bring a £1 billion economic boost.”
Featured Image — Publicity Pictures (supplied via Rochdale Borough Council)
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Scouting For Girls announce stacked UK tour with Manchester date
Thomas Melia
British boyband Scouting For Girls are heading out on an extensive UK tour with dates up and down the country, including right here in Manchester.
If the first thing that pops into your mind when you read this headline is “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know how we’ll make it through this”, then you’re on the right side of history.
Nearly 20 years since their single ‘She’s So Lovely’ reached catastrophic heights and had everyone putting on their best Roy Stride accent, Scouting For Girls are heading back on the road.
This UK tour announcement comes two years after their last project, The Place We Used To Meet, reached our ears and was coined by the band as “Our best work since our debut”.
It’s been 18 years since this Brit trio captivated our hearts with their eponymous debut album, which sold over one million copies and went number one on the UK official charts for two weeks.
Whether you know them for ‘Heartbeat’ or ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’, it’s clear to say this band had their fair share of smash hit singles throughout the noughties.
This tour, however, celebrates the sophomore follow-up: Everybody Wants To Be On TV, which went on to continue their legacy and secure them their only number one, ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’, back in 2010.
Now, the boys are treating UK fans to an array of live performances, and if you can’t make one date, fear not because there are 20 different locations for you to choose from.
The group will also be playing the likes of Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and a whole host of other Northern cities, so you have plenty of chances to catch them.
If you can’t wait all the way until March 2026 for your next Scouting For Girls fix, lead singer Stride has his own cameo account where you can get the star to read out a message or even sing you a song: “‘Michaela Strachan’ in full, please?…”
Scouting For Girls are coming to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 21 March 2026, with tickets going on sale next Friday, 2 May at 10am HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd November 2023 
