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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Parents of toddlers will be able to apply for 15 hours of free childcare per week next year
Emily Sergeant
Working parents to toddlers will soon be eligible to apply for 15 hours of free childcare per week, the Government has confirmed.
As part of what the Government says is the “first step” in its “long-term plan to give working families a brighter future” – which was first hinted at all the way back in March of this year – it’s now been confirmed that, as of 2 January 2024, eligible working parents of two-year-olds will be able to register to access 15 hours free childcare per week from next April.
With thousands of parents set to benefit from the new scheme, Government ministers say the recommended time to register is between mid-January and the end of February next year.
Further increases to funding rates for childcare have also been confirmed this week, which apparently means that, in just 2024-25 alone, the Government will be investing over £400 million to deliver “a significant uplift to local authority hourly rates”.
We’re helping more parents access high-quality childcare so they can go to work.
As part of the largest expansion of childcare in history, from April, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of childcare per week.
This is said to be in a bid to “ensure enough [childcare] places are available”, wherever it is they’re needed around the country.
It’s claimed to be the “largest ever expansion of free childcare for working parents” in England’s history.
National average hourly rates paid by the Government will be £11.22 for under twos, £8.28 for two-year-olds, and £5.88 for three and four-year-olds from April 2024, it’s been confirmed.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the transformation of the current UK childcare system is “no easy task”, but the Government is “committed” to taking it on.
Parents of toddlers will soon be able to apply for 15 hours of free childcare / Credit: Tanaphong Toochinda & Ryan Fields (via Unsplash)
“Our fantastic childcare offer is going to start supporting eligible families in less than six months’ time, and I want to make sure that parents and providers are prepared,” she explained as the new scheme was announced.
“From April next year, eligible working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of government-funded childcare a week.
“We’re making sure parents no longer have to choose between a career and a family, and doubling down on this Government’s commitment to getting more people into work and growing the economy.”
Double canal tragedy in Wigan as man and his carer die after falling into the water
Daisy Jackson
A moving tribute has been paid to one of the men who died after falling into a canal in Wigan yesterday.
Aaron Ritchie (49) along with his carer (60) both entered the water at Crank Wood canal in Abram at around 2.15pm on Tuesday.
Despite emergency services conducting life-saving intervention on both men, they tragically passed away later in hospital.
Aaron’s family said that he had special needs and loved the outdoor life, and that his death has come as ‘a complete shock’.
It’s believed that he accidentally fell into the canal and his carer jumped in after to try and rescue him.
His carer’s next-of-kin have been informed of his death.
The pair’s deaths aren’t being treated as suspicious and police are continuing to establish the circumstances behind their deaths, with a scene still in place at the canal in Wigan.
Aaron’s family said in a tribute to him: “It’s come as a complete shock to us as a family surrounding the tragic accident of what happened on Tuesday afternoon. Aaron was a loveable character who made a big impression on everyone who knew him.
“Aaron had special needs and he loved the outdoor life and as long as he had his puzzles, laces and spinning tops he was happy. Aaron is surely going to be missed by us as a family.
#TRIBUTE | The family of Aaron Ritchie have paid tribute to him after he sadly died in Abram.
The next of kin of Aaron’s carer, a 60-year-old man, have been informed of his death.
“We would like to pass on our sincere condolences to his carers’ family and a special thank you to the emergency services who attended trying to save them.”
A statement from GMP said: “At approximately 2.15pm yesterday (Tuesday 28 November 2023) emergency services were alerted to the presence of two males who had entered the water at Crank Wood canal, Abram, and came into difficulty.
“The men were retrieved from the water by specialist personnel in a multi-agency emergency response. Life-saving intervention was conducted by medical staff however sadly both males tragically passed away later in hospital.
“The next of kin of Aaron’s carer, a 60-year-old man, have been informed of his death.”
Emily Sergeant -
2nd November 2023 
