Three police officers who chased and detained a man carrying a gun in Manchester have been nominated for a bravery award.
PC Jack Ginger, PC Jessica Hamblett, and PC Richard Hayes from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have been nominated for The National Police Bravery Awards after they put themselves at what was said to be “a significant risk to their own wellbeing” while chasing and eventually apprehending a gunman in Harpurhey back in March 2021.
The trio were in plain clothes on mobile patrol in a plain vehicle when PC Hamblett noticed a number of individuals “loitering together”.
According to GMP, due to the suspicious behaviour of this group, PC Hayes turned the vehicle around, and as they did so, the officers heard a loud bang – which they believed to be a firearm discharging – and a few seconds later, they saw a man running down the street carrying a black bin liner and seemingly trying to conceal its contents.
Due to the way he was acting and the loud bang, the trio then identified themselves as police officers and the man ran off towards a black Ford Focus – which was parked up with two other men inside.
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PCs Ginger, Hamblett, and Hayes immediately chased the man, and he tried to get into the Ford Focus, but it eventually made off and left the man with the gun behind.
PC Jack Ginger, PC Jessica Hamblett, and PC Richard Hayes have been nominated for The National Police Bravery Award / Credit: Greater Manchester Police
The man then ran off and was pursued on foot by PC Ginger, followed by PC Hayes, and supported by PC Hamblett in the police vehicle, and after a pursuit through a number of back streets, PC Ginger managed to detain the man with the assistance of his colleagues, while PC Hayes conducted a search along the route of the pursuit to find the black bin bag discarded near where the offender had tried to get into the car.
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The bin bag did in fact contain a converted blank-firing Retay handgun, with the cartridge still in the chamber – which is a prohibited firearm.
“What a tremendous trio of colleagues,” said Greater Manchester Police Federation Chair Lee Broadbent.
“The actions of Jack, Jessica and Richard in pursuing a male who was armed with a firearm, which they believed had just been discharged, was exceptionally brave.
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“The officers acted fast to detain this man and prevent any harm to members of the public, at significant risk to their own wellbeing [and] not only was the suspect apprehended, but their excellent commentary during the pursuit directed other officers to support, and the subsequent scene management ensured the recovery of the weapon and other important evidence.
“The actions of these officers has brought a very high-risk individual into custody, which will have had a significant impact on protecting and reassuring the local community.”
The offender was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and as his fingerprints were found on the bag which the gun was found inside of, he was remanded into custody.
The offender was jailed for five years in July 2021.
Featured Image – Greater Manchester Police
News
Starmer: Burnham ‘free to stand’ after his term as Mayor as 50 MPs object to by-election block
Danny Jones
Sir Keir Starmer has said that Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham is more than welcome to run for Parliament after his present term as Mayor.
This comes after Burnham was reportedly ‘blocked’ from running for the currently vacant local seat in Gorton and Denton.
However, the Prime Minister insists the block was simply an attempt to protect the party, arguing that it would have diverted focus and resources away from other issues, whilst insisting that what Burnham does after his run as the region’s mayor is “a matter for Andy”.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE
This is the letter Labour activists in Gorton and Denton are sending to Sir Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood
They are demanding the NEC reverses its decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in the by-election in their seat
As per The Telegraph, Starmer went on to add that he believes his former colleague (the PM worked under Burnham back in 2015) is doing “a first-class job” in local government.
The 56-year-old was first elected Mayor for Greater Manchester back in 2017 before winning re-election back in both 2021 and May of 2024.
His current tenure is set to end around the same time in 2028, but with many touting for the ‘King of the North’ as a potential leadership replacement ahead of the next general election – which must take place no later than 15 August 2029 – a prospective return to Parliament could be next on the cards.
Those who signed the letter going against Keir stated that he had “no legitimate reason” to prevent such a move against Burnham and said that Labour’s governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), should reassess and ultimately reconsider.
It remains to be seen whether the outcome will change either way.
The internal saga has sparked quite the debate
As for the Aintree-born politician, after already admitting that he was “disappointed” by the decision, he also rubbished suggestions that he knew about the move to block him prior to the event, calling the reports “completely untrue” and simply made no sense.
Following up in another post on social media, he shared the latest update from Downing Street itself, which reads: “No one in Number 10 told Andy Burnham not to apply to the NEC for permission to stand or gave any indication to him which sought to prejudge the NEC officers’ deliberation or decision.”
Once again, only time will tell whether or not the letter objecting to Burnham’s return to standing for a constituency or any other Parliamentary role will see any watershed.
Police appeal after Salford woman, 95, threatened by window cleaner in her own home
Emily Sergeant
Police are appealing for information after an elderly woman was threatened inside her own home during an attempted robbery.
Around 11am yesterday morning (27 January), officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Salford division responded to reports that a woman had cash demanded from her at an address on Belcroft Drive in Little Hulton.
It is believed that a man entered the property after offering to clean the woman’s – who police have confirmed is 95-years-old – windows, before tying her hands together, and then demanding her cash and purse.
The man’s efforts were disrupted when another woman who knew the victim arrived at the house, and thankfully because of this, no injuries were reported and the victim is being supported by officers.
The man fled the scene, and no arrests have been made at this time.
This is why police are now appealing to the public for any information that they may have that could help with their investigation while extensive enquires are ongoing – including any CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage from around the area at the time.
Investigators attended the scene and gathered evidence, which is currently being assessed and acted upon, but are also keen to speak to anyone who saw anything ‘suspicious’.
The man who committed the offence was described as white male, approximately in his late 60s or early 70s, with short mousy brown hair combed back, no facial hair, glasses, appeared well-kempt, and was wearing a dark raincoat jacket, jeans, and dark-coloured shoes.
“This was a vile incident in which a woman was tied up and threatened, and we are determined to locate the man responsible,” commented Detective Inspector Paul Davies, from GMP’s Salford district.
“Thankfully, this was not a more serious situation and we commend the brave actions of the lady’s friend who confronted the man and called officers. As we progress this investigation, we are appealing for anyone with any information to please come forward.”
Can you help? Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1082 of 27/01/26, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
7th June 2022 
