A Manchester police officer has been sacked for failing to remain at the scene after being involved in a car crash.
PC Joel Hopkins, who was involved in a collision with another vehicle in the Golborne of Wigan back in July 2022, has been dismissed from the police service with immediate effect, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed this week.
PC Hopkins formerly worked within GMP’s Specialist Operations team.
After being involved in the collision, PC Hopkins was instructed by the other present officers to walk up the street and onto the other side of the pedestrian safety barrier, while the scene was assessed for injuries and damage – however, he proceeded to ignore the request.
Instead, he was then said to have “made off on foot”, and later reported the collision by attending Leigh Police Station.
ADVERTISEMENT
A Manchester police has officer been sacked for fleeing from the scene of a crash he was involved in / Credit: GMP
The former PC first appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court in May 2023, where he pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, and was subsequently disqualified from driving for six months, as well as handed a hefty £2,500 fine.
The driving ban was downgraded to seven penalty points on appeal, GMP revealed.
ADVERTISEMENT
He then appeared at an accelerated misconduct hearing at GMP’s HQ last Friday (15 March), and was dismissed without notice after admitting his actions amounted to gross misconduct.
It’s also been ordered that PC Hopkins’ name be added to the ‘College of Policing Barred List’.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who presided over the GMP misconduct hearing, called PC Hopkins’ actions “unlawful” and “injurious”.
ADVERTISEMENT
PC Joel Hopkins was dismissed at an accelerated misconduct hearing at GMP’s HQ last week / Credit: David Dixon (via Geograph)
Following PC Hopkins being dismissed last week, CC Watson commented: “PC Hopkins’ offending behaviour was clearly unlawful and injurious to the public’s perception of what should be represented in the behaviour of a professional and well conducted officer.
“This episode marks a terrible lapse in judgement which runs contrary to the evidence of PC Hopkins otherwise long and creditable service.
“It remains clear however, notwithstanding the officer’s previously unblemished record, that this factor does not outweigh the potential for the loss of confidence that would ensue if PC Hopkins were to be permitted to continue to perform in the office of constable.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
All students in England to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE
Emily Sergeant
All students in England are soon to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE.
Said to be part of the UK’s ‘enduring support’ for the Ukrainian community and continued commitment to stand with Ukraine and its people, young people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will now have the opportunity to study for a new Ukrainian GCSE, the Government has announced.
While the qualification will be open to all students, it marks a ‘particularly significant’ milestone for Ukrainian children and young people living in the UK.
It’s hoped that the introduction of the new GCSE will help Ukrainians to preserve a vital connection to their language, culture, and identity.
It’s also hoped that it’ll open pathways to future education and employment for all pupils.
In line with the other modern foreign language GCSEs that are currently on offer, the qualification will assess listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, while also recognising the cultural and historical contexts that shape the Ukrainian language.
Examination board AQA will now begin the next phase of development, bringing together language and subject experts to design what will be a ‘high-quality’ qualification reflecting the richness of Ukrainian language and culture.
Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, commented: “As they build their lives here in the UK, it is right that Ukrainians and their children should have every opportunity to maintain that connection to their heritage and to be proud of who they are.
“This new qualification is available to all pupils and will give them the chance to develop their language skills and celebrate Ukraine’s rich culture and history, while also opening pathways to future study and employment and strengthening our partnership with Ukraine.
“Through that enduring partnership, we are building the lasting ties between our countries that will see the young minds of the future move forward together, and foster connections that transcend borders.”
The Ukrainian GCSE is expected to be available for first teaching from September 2028 – with first assessments taking place in 2029.
Featured Image – Taylor Flowe (via Unsplash)
News
More arrests made in connection with ‘significant’ alleged financial irregularities at Greater Manchester uni
Emily Sergeant
Further arrests have been made in connection with ‘significant’ alleged financial irregularities at a university in Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that two people have been arrested as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the University of Greater Manchester – formerly the University of Bolton – between 2014 and 2025.
Two warrants were executed yesterday morning (4 November 2026) – one in Bolton, and another in South Yorkshire.
Subsequently a man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation, perverting the course of justice, and fraud by the abuse of position, while a man in his 60s has been arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation, perverting the course of justice, and fraud by false representation.
The arrests come, as mentioned, as part of an ongoing investigation.
GMP’s Major Incident Team opened a fraud and bribery investigation a year ago after it received allegations from The Mill, and a subsequent report from Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) commissioned by the university’s Fraud Response Panel.
Since then, detectives have been working closely with the Crown Prosecution (CPS)’s Serious Economic Crime team, and are said to have been making ‘painstaking’ enquiries to independently compile evidence that is ‘impartial’ and ‘robust’.
“We’re exploring evidence indicating over £1 million’s worth of fraudulent activity. As part of our enquiries, we’re probing around 60 transactions and investigating more than a million emails,” GMP said in a statement.
Detective Inspector Matthew Donnelly, from GMP’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, added: “This remains a complex and extensive investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and financial misconduct at the University of Greater Manchester.
“The offences for which these individuals have been arrested on suspicion of are serious and include allegations of fraud, witness intimidation, perverting the course of justice and money laundering.
Emily Sergeant -
20th March 2024 
