News

Several people arrested for the ‘cruel and unlawful’ sale of puppies across Greater Manchester

Such an awful story.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 16th October 2024

Several people have been arrested in connection with the ‘cruel and unlawful’ sale of puppies across Greater Manchester.

Following an extensive investigation into the illegitimate and organised sale of puppies, which was carried out by the RSPCA and supported by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), three men aged between 23 and 31, and a 43-year-old woman, have all been arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and fraud by false representation.

It comes after police executed five warrants at addresses in Rochdale and Manchester.

GMP says this important investigation uncovered an illicit underground trade that promotes animal cruelty and neglect.

Sellers and criminal gangs made “vast sums of money” at the expense of innocent puppies and members of the public, with some of the puppies dying shortly after being sold to unsuspecting Greater Manchester residents.

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Several people have been arrested for the ‘cruel and unlawful’ sale of puppies across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP

Members of the public were lead to believe they were buying much-loved family pets, but they may have been imported from overseas instead, according to GMP.

Sergeant Brendan Walsh, from GMP’s Rochdale district, described this as “organised crime”, and said that those involved have been making “eye-watering profits” from this harmful and illicit trade.

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“This has been a tremendous joint effort between Greater Manchester Police and the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit,” Sergeant Walsh continued. “We’ve had members of the public who have paid substantial amounts for these puppies, paid large veterinary fees, and have been left traumatised by their experiences.

“I hope today’s activity will highlight our commitment to tackling this type of crime, and I would urge anyone who feels they have been affected by this to please contact us so we can act.”

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GMP says work remains ongoing at this time, and officers are following several lines of enquiry to “disrupt and prevent” this type of criminality.

Featured Image – GMP

News

Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.

Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.

A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.

Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.

It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.

Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.

As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.

Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.

The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.

Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.  

Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.

The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.

Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.

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“Help us be a lifeline to organisations on the frontline,” Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity urged in it’s public appeal for donations.

You can help make sure ‘A Bed Every Night’ is a reality for all by donating here.

Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)

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