Police have seized an estimated £6 million worth of counterfeit goods from several industrial units in Rochdale.
It comes after the Trading Standards team and officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Rochdale Neighbourhood Policing Team attended a joint visit to a business park, at Crown Top Lane, on the afternoon of Thursday 1 May last week, following the receiving of some intelligence that an Organised Crime Gang from Cheetham Hill had extended their operation and opened another site in Rochdale.
According to GMP, the visit was part of a ‘targeted operation’ tackling organised crime in the Castleton area of Rochdale.
When police arrived on the scene, seven units containing counterfeit goods – including a range of branded sports trainers, perfumes, luxury accessories, high-end tech products, and illicit cigarettes – were all discovered.
Two men, aged 29 and 70 were present at the site, and they were subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession and control of counterfeit goods.
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Police have seized an estimated £6m worth of counterfeit goods from Rochdale industrial units / Credit: GMP
They have been bailed pending further enquiries, GMP revealed.
Due to the large scale of the boxed goods, the scene was secured overnight and officers and trading standards returned the following day (Friday 2 May) with a HGV to recover all the items.
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Police are now appealing to the public for information, with Inspector Anthony Taylor, from GMP’s Rochdale Neighbourhood Policing Team, explaining that it takes any intelligence submitted by the public ‘seriously’ and acts upon it ‘accordingly’.
“If you have any concerns about organised criminals operating in your area, please get in touch with us,” he concluded.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101, or via the LiveChat function on the GMP website.
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Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
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Two ‘quick-thinking’ GMP officers praised for saving baby’s life after suffering epileptic seizure
Emily Sergeant
Two ‘quick-thinking’ police officers have been praised for saving baby’s life after they suffering epileptic seizure.
After PCs Harry Moore and Alexandra Higginson were called to reports of a concern for welfare at an address in the Gorton area of Manchester, they managed to save the life of an eight-month-old baby who had suffered a seizure.
“When we entered the street, the baby’s father was already running towards us with the baby in his arms,” explained PC Moore.
“The baby was unconscious at the time with a very irregular breathing pattern, so I immediately took the child from the father and started performing CPR. Whilst performing CPR, I had to give the recovery breaths into the baby’s nose because he had a locked jaw, which I now realise was because of the seizure.”
The ambulance came roughly five minutes after police arrived on the scene.
Quick-thinking officers saved a baby’s life after an eight-month-old suffered an epileptic seizure.
PCs Harry Moore and Alexandra Higginson recently saved the life of an eight-month-old baby who had suffered a seizure.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 3, 2025
After paramedics arrived, they took the baby into the ambulance, where he then proceeded had another seizure, but not long after, he started crying loudly which meant he was back to breathing again.
“I told the father, who was just outside the ambulance at the time, and he was so relieved and gave me a hug,” PC Moore continued. “This is a moment I will never forget.”
PC Moore also praised his colleague PC Higginson, adding: “I can’t state enough how much of a team effort this job was. My colleague did an absolutely fantastic job of passing important information along as appropriate and we worked together as a team.
“Alex travelled to hospital in the ambulance with the mother and baby and I followed separately. Alex constantly relayed vital information and got the details of all parties involved, which was really helpful.
“We hope the baby and family they are all doing well and that the baby is happy and recovering.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Tragedy as two superbike riders die in ‘catastrophic accident’ at Cheshire event
Daisy Jackson
Two riders have tragically died in a ‘chain reaction’ accident at a superbike race in Cheshire.
Owen Jenner, 21, and Shane Richardson, 29, both died of their injuries following a crash involving 11 riders.
The ‘catastrophic accident’ occurred yesterday at the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship superbike race at Oulton Park in Cheshire.
The race was immediately stopped so that trackside medical services could attend to the 11 riders who had fallen.
Due to the ‘extreme severity’ of the incident, the rest of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship event was cancelled.
Two riders lost their lives and another has sustained significant injuries and remains in hospital.
Owen Jenner, 21 years old, was treated trackside and taken to the circuit medical centre , but died from a catastrophic head injury.
Cheshire Police said in a statement: “Police are investigating two deaths on behalf of the coroner following a multiple collision at Oulton Park this afternoon (Monday 5 May).
“Emergency services were called to the scene following the collision which resulted in two riders being fatally injured and another with serious injuries.
“Due to the severity of the incident and ongoing medical intervention, the remainder of the event was cancelled.
“The two riders who sadly died have been named as Owen Jenner (21) and Shane Richardson (29).”