Officers have stepped up search operations for a missing Manchester man who left home one December evening last year and never returned.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that Peter Baglin left home to go for a walk on the evening of Wednesday 28 December 2022, and was last seen on CCTV at a garage in Mosley Common near Worsley that same night – before his phone, hat, and headphones were found on a towpath beside the Bridgewater Canal the following day.
Peter’s wife, Michelle Baglin – who made a desperate plea for his return last month – reported him missing when he didn’t return home.
But since that day, just over two months later, there still haven’t been any sightings of him.
In the initial period after the 55-year-old was reported missing from what has been described as his “favourite walk”, extensive police searches were carried out along the canal towpath, between the Moorings and Astley Point, and adjoining fields and woodland areas – including by teams specialising in mountain rescue, underwater searches, and drones.
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Michelle has also organised her own searches along the Bridgewater Canal, which have seen hundreds turn out to help try and find him.
After no success with previous search efforts, GMP has confirmed that yesterday (2 March), the Police Search Advisors (POLSA) team have stepped up their searches by returning to the canal to carry out a further search, together with mountain rescuers searching the surrounding area, and the underwater dive team – with the drone having also been re-deployed.
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“These searches will continue over the next couple of days,” GMP confirmed.
CCTV images taken of Peter on the night of 28 December 2022 / Credit: GMP
Senior Investigating Officer Michael Sharples, from Salford’s CID, says the stepped-up search efforts are just one line of enquiry the team is following as “there is no evidence to suggest the whereabouts of Peter at this time.”
“At the time Peter went missing, there were extremely low temperatures and not much boat traffic on the water,” he continued.
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“This part of the canal is very unique, and as such, changes in temperature and the fact the season is changing, can impact on how the water behaves, so due to this, we have decided to carry out the search again, and we will also have the drone back in the air – which is used to access areas that are harder to reach on foot.
“Not only will we be carrying out these searches, but we will be looking for even more CCTV and ring doorbell footage.”
#UPDATE | Officers are continuing their search of missing Boothstown man, Peter Baglin, and are continuing to ask for the public's help in locating him.
He explained that GMP and specialist officers are continuing to work closely with Peter’s wife and his family, and added that they are “grateful to the multi-agency response” they’ve received over the last few weeks.
While GMP “continues to follow up on every lead given”, it has also reinforced its appeal to the public and is urging people to “take another look at any footage, just to be sure.”
Anyone with any information on Peter Baglin’s whereabouts is urged to contact GMP on 101 or through the LiveChat Function on the website, www.gmp.police.uk – but if you’re unsure about coming forwards, you can also pass information on anonymously through the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Family Handout (via GMP)
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Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation to open in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation is set to open its doors in Manchester very soon.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
Set to be the label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, and although there’s no confirmed opening date as of yet, if the shop windows saying ‘Summer 2026’ are anything to go by, we can only imagine it’ll be very soon.
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis
Emily Sergeant
A series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help combat the rising cost of living crisis are soon to be rolled out nationwide.
Kicking off with two measures today, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he plans to ban retailers from making ‘misleading’ claims to customers about discounts.
The Government says shoppers have ‘increasingly complained’ about outlets artificially inflating prices to give a false sense of value, such as increasing prices only to then immediately advertise ‘discounts’ to make savings look larger than they really are, which goes on to create an uneven playing field for honest competitors.
The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to so-called ‘subscription traps’, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions, and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost.
Set to come into force in January 2027 and saving people an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription, the changes will mean businesses will need to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders. and a ‘much easier’ exit to contracts.
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis / Credit: gov.uk | Piotr Cichosz (via Unsplash)
A new 14-day cooling-off period will also be introduced to let consumers cancel after a trial or long-term contract renews.
Certain charitable memberships, like the ones for cultural and heritage organisations for example, will be excluded from the new subscription rules due to the fact they have a unique role in preserving the nation’s history, landscapes, and cultural collections.
The Prime Minister says he is ‘determined’ to use every chance he gets to restore fairness and take pressure off people.
“I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps,” Andy Burnham said. “Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life, but I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives.”
Emily Sergeant -
3rd March 2023 
