Greater Manchester Police have revealed that over £4 million in criminal cash and assets have been recovered in less than a year of cracking down across the region.
As per a press release from GMP, they detailed how the dedicated Asset Detention and Recovery Unit (ADRU) collected a total of £4,226,798.39 in the past financial year.
Based on figures starting from April 2023 until now and made up of over 420 successful forfeiture orders, the impressive haul is made up of £3,816,998.39 in cash and an additional £409,800.00 in listed assets such as high-value watches and jewellery.
On Tuesday, 20 March alone, the team successfully secured a whopping £192,486.14 worth of illegal money and possessions submitted to Tameside Magistrates Court.
#NEWS | Over £4 million of criminal’s cash has been recovered by GMP since April 2023.
This financial year, our Asset Detention and Recovery Unit have forfeited a total of £4,226,798.39, surpassing last years figures 🏆
Citing other efforts by the unit, the statement goes on to explain how an October sting over in Ardwick saw officers find a “substantial” amount of cocaine hidden inside a toilet cistern, as well as precisely £11,385 in cash and a Rolex Oyster Watch worth over £12,000.
ADVERTISEMENT
But this particular operation didn’t stop there either, as these items were recovered along with a 1.87kg bag of cannabis, scales, vacuum-sealed bags a heat-sealing machine and envelopes, indicating they formed “part of a wider criminal enterprise”.
Better still, as part of the nationwide Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), while 50% of the money reclaimed is investing into the force and their further efforts, the other half goes straight back into various initiatives that benefit the community.
Detective Inspector Sarah Langley, of GMPs Asset Detention and Recovery Unit, said of the latest stats: “This is a huge achievement for the team. The officers in the unit work hard and a huge amount of work goes into preparing these cases to go to court to successfully recover criminal’s finances.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The money comes from a wide range of criminal activity from across Greater Manchester, from smaller amounts of cash we retrieve from local drug dealing issues, right up to disrupting large-scale organised criminals operating in the regions where money is often used to further serious violence in our communities.”
A great approach to making sure this money is put to best use to but make sure it continues, the authorities reiterate that they still “need you and your information”, so as always, if you have any knowledge of criminal activity you can call 101, 999 in immediate situations or use Crimestoppers anonymously.
Featured Images — Greater Manchester Police (via X)/Wikimedia Commons
News
‘Groundbreaking’ new police team launches on Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world
Emily Sergeant
A ‘groundbreaking’ new policing model aimed at making the Bee Network one of the safest public transport networks in the world has launched.
Described as being ‘pioneering’, the first-of-its-kind approach – named the Transport Policing and Crime Command (TPACC) – will bring Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) even closer together to tackle crime, antisocial behaviour, and safety issues across the region’s transport network.
So, how will it work then? Well, according to TfGM, the command will ‘effectively establish’ the Bee Network as GMP’s eleventh policing district.
It will bring together up to 300 personnel, including new police officers, who are all involved in keeping the network safe and providing greater reassurance to passengers travelling across the region.
Efforts to keep passengers safe on buses, trams, active travel routes, and roads across Greater Manchester will be ‘strengthened’ through the new team – improving co-ordination in response to incidents, and helping to reassure communities.
A ‘groundbreaking’ new police team has launched on the Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world / Credit: TfGM
The new team will also incorporate the existing Roads Policing Unit within GMP that includes specialist functions such as the Central Ticket Office, the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit, the motorbike unit, the Commercial Vehicle Unit, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, and more.
Overall, the key focus of TPACC is to:
Increase public confidence on safety across the transport network
Reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and criminality across the transport network
Increase the number of users of the Bee Network across Greater Manchester
The launch of TPACC is said to represents ‘the next phase’ of Greater Manchester’s commitment to creating a ‘safer, more secure, and more welcoming’ transport network for everyone who lives, works, and travels across the region.
“I want a world-class Bee Network where everyone feels safe,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“Our new dedicated transport policing command will bring together more than 300 police and safety officers, with high-profile patrols across our roads and the Bee Network. It means a stronger presence in our communities and faster action when people need help.
“TPACC will also crack down on dangerous driving to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, which have devastating consequences for families and communities.”
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Two arrested after assaulting and burgling 90-year-old woman in Stockport suburb
Emily Sergeant
Two people have been arrested following reports of an assault and burglary at a 90-year-old woman’s home in a Stockport suburb.
While en-route to the incident in Heald Green – which was reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at around 2:30am on 29 October – officers located the victim’s vehicle being driven by an unknown man.
The stolen vehicle made off from police before it lost control, went up a grass verge, and collided with a stationary vehicle.
Police confirmed that a white British man, aged 41, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of a burglary and serious assault, while a white British woman, aged 47, was also later arrested on suspicion of burglary and serious assault – with both remaining in custody for questioning.
The victim, a 90-year-old woman, was taken to hospital for treatment and is being supported by specialist officers, although luckily, her injuries are not life-threatening.
Enquiries are now ongoing, and officers are working to establish the full circumstances of the shocking incident.
“This was undoubtedly a traumatic experience for the victim, and we have specialist officers supporting her through this investigation,” explained Detective Inspector Craig Turner, from Stockport CID.
“This was a violent burglary and thanks to the brave victim reporting it, our officers made two swift arrests with the suspects taken into police custody to be interviewed.
“We believe this was a targeted attack and there is no wider risk to the community. Extra patrols of officers have been deployed to the area to offer reassurance to members of the community. Please let them know if you have any concerns.
“We are committed to tackling dangerous offenders and keeping our communities safe from harm.”
Danny Jones -
21st March 2024 
