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Officers execute daybreak raids as part of a firearms investigation in Cheetham Hill.
This morning, Thursday 21 May, officers from the North Manchester division carried out raids at two addresses in Cheetham Hill as part of an ongoing investigation into a firearms discharge, which took place last week on Monday 11 May 2020.
In the early hours of that morning, at around 1.15am, police were called to reports of between two and four gunshot sounds on Galsworthy Avenue.
No injuries were reported but some damage was caused to a vehicle on the street.
During today's raids officers seized a quantity of cash as part of the direct action. One man was arrested.
Speaking after the raids, Superintendent Rebecca Boyce, of GMPs North Manchester district, said: “First and foremost I sincerely hope that this morning’s activity shows to the people of Cheetham Hill just how seriously we continue to take incidents of this nature. We will explore every line of enquiry available to us and leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice.
“Guns and violence have no place on our streets; and anyone who is harbouring weapons of this nature or taking part in this kind of criminal activity should know that we do not take these incidents lightly. Anyone who brandishes a weapon within our communities and ultimately puts the lives of others at risk can expect to be investigated by us.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to protecting people and making the streets of Cheetham Hill a safer place, we have been working closely with partners, including Manchester City Council –both Adult and Children’s Services and housing providers. This prevention work is absolutely vital if we are to support those most vulnerable in our society and put a stop to this type of offending. A huge priority for us is discouraging people from taking this path and turning to this kind of criminality and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our partners who have continued to support us in this.
“We have been always very clear that we cannot do this alone and would like to continue to appeal to the public to help us. Often, answers lie within communities and this type of criminal activity can only be halted completely with the support of those with information. If people would prefer to speak anonymously, they can do so by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers.”
Anyone with any information should contact police on 0161 856 3924 quoting incident number 124 of 11/05/2020. Details can also be anonymously passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Dawn raids saw officers in Oldham execute six drugs warrants as part of a crackdown on drug dealing in the district.
At around 6.15am this morning (Thursday 2 July 2020), officers from GMP’s Oldham division raided an address on Chamber Road, Coppice, and at five properties in the Glodwick area.
The action comes after concerns were raised in the community regarding the dealing of drugs in the area.
Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Prescott, of GMP’s Oldham division, said: “We hope that today’s operation demonstrates not only how keen we are to tackle drugs across the district and the Force, but also our endeavours to listen to community concerns and to act upon them.
“Today’s action is a significant part of tackling the issues around drugs that we see too often in our societies and the devastating impact they can have on individuals, their families and loved ones as well as the wider community.
“This action will have caused a huge amount of disruption for the criminals who seek to infiltrate these substances onto our streets and degrade the quality of life for so many.
“Anyone with concerns about the dealing of such drugs in their area should not hesitate to contact police; safe in the knowledge that we are prepared to strike back against those who operate in this destructive and illegal industry.”
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit
You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
You can access many of our services online at www.gmp.police.uk
Dawn raids saw officers in Oldham execute six drugs warrants as part of a crackdown on drug dealing in the district.
At around 6.15am this morning (Thursday 2 July 2020), officers from GMP’s Oldham division raided an address on Chamber Road, Coppice, and at five properties in the Glodwick area.
The action comes after concerns were raised in the community regarding the dealing of drugs in the area.
Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Prescott, of GMP’s Oldham division, said: “We hope that today’s operation demonstrates not only how keen we are to tackle drugs across the district and the Force, but also our endeavours to listen to community concerns and to act upon them.
“Today’s action is a significant part of tackling the issues around drugs that we see too often in our societies and the devastating impact they can have on individuals, their families and loved ones as well as the wider community.
“This action will have caused a huge amount of disruption for the criminals who seek to infiltrate these substances onto our streets and degrade the quality of life for so many.
“Anyone with concerns about the dealing of such drugs in their area should not hesitate to contact police; safe in the knowledge that we are prepared to strike back against those who operate in this destructive and illegal industry.”
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit
You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
You can access many of our services online at www.gmp.police.uk
The Intergalactic Girl always wanted to explore the universe and go on space adventures, but she got stuck guarding a remote outpost on a bare planet. I guess she should have been careful what she wished for because one day the notorious Space Villain and his merciless crew of space pirates came to raid the outpost! Can she fend off the scum together with her astronaut friends?
My second entry for the CMF Series 6 Building Contest on Eurobricks.
This morning, Friday 25 October, saw raids on homes of suspected drug dealers as part of Challenger.
Agencies across Greater Manchester have joined forces to declare war on organised criminal gangs across the region.
This week has seen the launch of Challenger, the largest ever multi-agency response to tackling organised criminal gangs (OCGS) in Manchester's history.
Over the past five days, more than 100 warrants have been carried out by numerous agencies to root out the drug dealers, loan sharks, rogue landlords and counterfeit good suppliers who are the lynchpins of these criminal networks.
The aim of Challenger is to identify every single organised crime group in existence and use all the weapons available to agencies across both Manchester and the UK to disrupt, dismantle and destroy these gangs.
This week alone, more than 50 suspected members of criminal gangs have been arrested for a variety of offences including drugs, firearms and money laundering.
More than £330,000 worth of drugs were recovered, £25,000 in cash seized along with weapons such as high-powered air rifles, a BB gun, a Taser and a baton. Seven high powered cars were also seized.
Up to 50 tonnes worth of counterfeit goods - worth at least £2m - including fake trainers, watches and clothing, were also seized from three properties in the Strangeways area, all of which were stocked to the brim across several different floors with fake goods.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebekah Sutcliffe, who heads Challenger for Greater Manchester Police, said: "Organised crime groups have a corrosive and insidious effect on our communities. These sorts of people mistakenly believe they 'own their turf' and use violence and intimidation to make people's lives a misery.
"However, this week we have brought the fight to these gangs and through Challenger we are now declaring war on these criminal networks who for too long have been bullying communities and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.
"Challenger is not about cutting off the head of a monster - it is about systematically dismantling these gangs member by member and making it impossible for them to operate. To do that, we need to get into the ribs of these people and hit them where it hurts.
"By working in partnership with so many other agencies, we can attack these gangs from every angle. We can expose benefit scams and leave these people penniless; we can seize their flash motors which are often not insured or taxed; we can shut down nail bars, takeaways and pubs where organised criminals often launder their dirty cash and we stop loan sharks from bullying victims into taking out exorbitant loans which fund their criminality.
"Through this partnership approach, Challenger will unmask every single organised crime group in Manchester and use every available tool to bring them crashing down."
There are currently more than 160 known organised criminal gangs in Greater Manchester, costing the local economy between 850m and 1.7bn each year.
However, it is thought they may be up to 500 of these networks in operation.
Thanks to Challenger, a central taskforce has been set up which will gather intelligence and build up an accurate picture of every single criminal gang in Manchester.
The taskforce will then work with partners from the local community, including neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Immigration Enforcement, the England Illegal Money Lending Team, housing providers, the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, HMRC and other agencies to draw up bespoke plans for how best to dismantle these gangs.
In addition to this important local approach, Challenger is also being supported by the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officers from these national agencies are providing regular support and expertise about how best to tackle organised criminality.
But central to the success of Challenger will be the support of the local community and people coming forward with information about criminality in their area.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sutcliffe said: "There may be a misconception among people that organised criminality is all about drugs and guns and that it does not affect their lives. They could not be more wrong.
"Organised criminality is not just about firearms and drug dealing - it is happening on people's doorsteps every day without them realising it.
"The way these gangs fund their criminal empires is through the sale of counterfeit goods, loan sharking, electricity, housing and benefit scams, human trafficking and rogue landlords.
"If you suspect any of this is happening in your community, you need to report it because the endgame of these sorts of offences are the brutal shootings we saw last year that resulted in innocent people being killed.
"But, with your help, we can break this chain. If you don't buy counterfeit goods or turn to loan sharks you are cutting off the funds for these criminals to buy guns and drugs. If you report housing scams you will be making it impossible for these gangs to have bases from which to operate. If you report someone who is driving around in a flash motor you know is not insured, you will be stopping these cars from being used as getaway vehicle during serious crime.
"This is a war we can win with the public's help. We can give communities back to law-abiding people. If you help us to identify the foundations these empires are built on, we will bring them crashing down. And if you wish to report anything anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers."
National Crime Agency regional head of investigations, Steve Baldwin, said: "Organised crime deprives people of their security and prosperity, leads to loss of life and costs the UK well over £20billion each year. It directly affects all of our communities. The NCA's role is to lead the UK's fight against organised crime. But to do that we need to work closely with our law enforcement partners like Greater Manchester Police, as we have done in supporting this operation. Together we will use every technique available to relentlessly and continuously disrupt serious organised criminals and make their lives as difficult as possible."
Jim Battle, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "These so-called 'Mr Bigs' think they can control our communities with a grip of fear. But the action taken by police, local councils and other agencies this week sends a clear message to these abhorrent individuals that there is no place for you in our communities - you will be hunted down and you will be brought to justice.
"The fight is ongoing and we can only keep up the pressure on these criminal gangs with the support of our communities across Greater Manchester. I thank the decent, law-abiding people for their continued help and urge you all to stand with us so together we can bring down these criminals and build safer communities."
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
Vikings raid a village.
My biggest ever creation, and a pain to photograph.
The skateboard ramp houses are based off Lord of the Lego's designs.
Gallery, when public: www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=311824
Depuis sa création en 1985, le RAID (Recherche, Assistance, Intervention et Dissuasion) participe sur l’ensemble du territoire à la lutte contre toutes les formes de terrorisme et de criminalité organisée dont certaines opérations ont fait l’objet d’un important retentissement médiatique.
Sa devise : "Servir, sans Faillir"
Plus d'infos : ick.li/1zb8gO
Dawn raids saw officers in Oldham execute six drugs warrants as part of a crackdown on drug dealing in the district.
At around 6.15am this morning (Thursday 2 July 2020), officers from GMP’s Oldham division raided an address on Chamber Road, Coppice, and at five properties in the Glodwick area.
The action comes after concerns were raised in the community regarding the dealing of drugs in the area.
Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Prescott, of GMP’s Oldham division, said: “We hope that today’s operation demonstrates not only how keen we are to tackle drugs across the district and the Force, but also our endeavours to listen to community concerns and to act upon them.
“Today’s action is a significant part of tackling the issues around drugs that we see too often in our societies and the devastating impact they can have on individuals, their families and loved ones as well as the wider community.
“This action will have caused a huge amount of disruption for the criminals who seek to infiltrate these substances onto our streets and degrade the quality of life for so many.
“Anyone with concerns about the dealing of such drugs in their area should not hesitate to contact police; safe in the knowledge that we are prepared to strike back against those who operate in this destructive and illegal industry.”
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit
You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
You can access many of our services online at www.gmp.police.uk
Toghill, Leslie C
TOGHILL, LESLIE CYRIL
Rank: Sergeant
Service No: 612946
Date of Death: 12/02/1942
Age: 23
Service: Royal Air Force, 49 Sqdn.
Panel Reference Panel 95.
Memorial RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Frederick Henry and Grace Ellen Toghill, of Norwich.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/1808883/TOGHILL...
In the official Casualty Communique number 173, printed in Flight Magazine on the 19th November, Sergeant L C Toghill is listed amongst those who were “Previously reported missing, now presumed Killed in Action”
12 February, 1942: In recent months, Bomber Command had dropped over 3,000 tons of bombs on the battle cruisers 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau' and the light cruiser 'Prinz Eugen' as they resided in the French port of Brest. The two larger ships had both been badly damaged, and the threat of further damage had prevented the ships from sailing out into the Atlantic on another raid against allied shipping. In a daring and well-executed operation, the Germans sailed their 3 ships straight up through the English Channel to bring them back to the greater protection of a German port. What followed on the part of the British Command has since been labelled as a catalogue of catastrophes, needless to say that the German warships achieved their destination unharmed. Heavily armed and protected by the Luftwaffe, the Germans exacted a heavy toll during the gallant British attempts to stop their breakout; Fighter Command lost 16 aircraft and the Fleet Air Arm had 6 Swordfish destroyed. Bomber Command's part in the action involved 244 aircraft of which 15 were lost in action, and a further 2 crashing on return. Only 5 Group had been on a 4 hour 'stand by', as bomber Squadrons made frantic efforts to prepare their aircraft. Eventually, 5 Group contributed 64 Hampdens and 15 Manchesters to attack the German warships; 9 Hampdens were reported missing and one crashed on return. 49 Squadron's participation was prompted by a signal from Group received at 10.00hrs requesting 20 aircraft to attack the 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau' at sea! Cpl Trevor Simpson recalls the urgency with which the preparations were carried out, and he is almost certain that this was the occasion when the Hampdens were taxied into a hangar, bombed up and then taxied out!
In low cloud and rain with extremely poor visibility, only 3 of the squadron's aircraft found the primary target.
It is now believed that two of the aircraft were shot down by German fighters, AE132 piloted by F/Sgt Charles Pollitt and AE396 flown by Sgt Edward Phillips. What we do know for certain is that these two crews plus that of Sgt Mervyn Holt (AE249) disappeared into the dark waters of the North Sea without trace; they are all remembered at Runnymede.
Hampden AE396 (EA-W)
Sgt E.W. Phillips Pilot (Missing)
Sgt A. Jackson W/OP (Missing)
Sgt K.W. Heard Pilot (Missing)
Sgt L.C. Toghill A/G (Missing)
www.bomberhistory.co.uk/49squadron/Roll%20of%20honour/Rol...
Sergeant Edward Walter Phillips, aged 21 - Son of Edward A. and Mary E. Phillips, of Conisbrough, Yorkshire.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/1804294/PHILLIP...
Sergeant Alexander Jackson, aged 20 - Son of Alexander William and Elsie Jackson, of New Wortley, Leeds, Yorkshire
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/1800975/JACKSON...
Sergeant Kenneth William Heard, aged 20 - Son of John Edward and Emily Winifred Heard, of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/1799831/HEARD,%...
Tuck, Derrick B
TUCK, DERRICK BERNARD
Rank: Sergeant
Trade: Air Gnr.
Service No: 3000563
Date of Death: 25/06/1945
Age: 19
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Grave Reference 2. E. 10.
Cemetery MOASCAR WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Albert George and Mabel Gertrude Tuck, of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2114827/TUCK,%2...
MOASCAR WAR CEMETERY, Egypt.
Historical Information
Moascar was the name given to the military camp near the town of Ismailia. The desert cemetery was started at Moascar by the military authorities for the burial of war casualties, mainly from the Canal Zone. After the war, further graves were moved into the cemetery from a number of burial grounds in the vicinity where permanent maintenance was not possible.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2009801/MOASCAR%20W...
I can’t find a reference to Derrick in the Official Casualty Lists held at the Flight site, but they are poorly indexed.
I could not find any reference to a crash in Egypt on this day.
.
Winter, Russell H
WINTER, RUSSELL HARRY
Rank: Flying Officer
Trade: W.Op./Air Gnr.
Service No: 169680
Date of Death: 28/07/1944
Age: 29
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 78 Sqdn.
Grave Reference Grave 11.
Cemetery ST. JORIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of George and Lilian Winter, of Norwich; husband of Irene Mabel Winter, of Upper Hillesdon, Norwich.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2253042/WINTER,...
Another one who wasn’t readily traceable through the official casualty lists as printed in Flight Magazine.
78 Squadrons were flying Halifax’s at this time.
Bomber Command Diary
27/28 July 1944
30 Mosquitos to Stuttgart and 12 aircraft on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.
28 July 1944
199 aircraft - 159 Halifaxes, 20 Mosquitos, 20 Stirlings - of Nos 3, 4 and 8 Groups attacked two launching sites and made two further separate raids on the Forêt de Nieppe storage site. All bombing was through cloud but the various methods used were believed to have led to accurate results. 1 Halifax lost from one of the Forêt de Nieppe raids.
28/29 July 1944
494 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 5 and 8 Groups in the last raid of the current series on Stuttgart. German fighters intercepted the bomber stream while over France on the outward flight; there was a bright moon and 39 Lancasters were shot down, 19 per cent of the force.
307 aircraft - 187 Halifaxes, 106 Lancasters, 14 Mosquitos from Nos 1, 6 and 8 Groups - to Hamburg. German fighters again appeared, this time on the homeward flight, and 18 Halifaxes and 4 Lancasters were lost, 12 per cent of the force. The Halifax casualties were 9.6 per cent; No 431 (Canadian) Squadron, flying from Croft airfield in Co. Durham, lost 5 of its 17 aircraft on the raid. This was the first heavy raid on Hamburg since the Battle of Hamburg just a year earlier. The bombing on this raid was not well concentrated. The Germans estimated that only 120 aircraft bombed in the city area, with no recognisable aiming point, though western and harbour areas received the most bombs.
119 aircraft of Nos 1, 4 and 8 Groups attacked the flying bomb stores area at Forêt De Nieppe again. No aircraft lost.
Support and 95 training aircraft on a diversionary sweep over the North Sea, 13 Mosquitos to Frankfurt, 41 RCM sorties, 50 Mosquito patrols, 5 Halifaxes minelaying in the River Elbe. No aircraft lost.
Total effort for the night: 1,126 sorties, 61 aircraft (5.4 per cent) lost.
www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/jul44.html
Other casualties from 78 Squadron who died the same day and who are buried in the St Joris Communal Cemetery:-
Flight Lieutenant William Gladstone Hoffman, aged 21, Pilot.
Son of Eagar and Hazel Hoffman; husband of Nan Hoffman, of Forres, Morayshire.
www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2253038/HOFFMAN...
The headstones can be seen here
www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/stjoris.htm
A closer shot of the headstone shows the Star of David.
twgpp.org/information.php?id=2903832
There is a bit more about the cemetery, which attributes Russell Winter and William Hoffman as members of the same crew, of Halifax MZ340 on this Dutch Language site.
translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=ht...
There is actually a monument to the crew of the plane, for which there is a photograph on the same site. I’ve tried to tidy up the Google translation of the original piece in Dutch.
Took off at 16.04 on the 28th July from RAF Breighton, England, with a target of the V1 sites and stores in the Forest of Nieppe. 8 miles from the Belgium coast it was hit by German Flak from unit Abt 252 located at Mariakerke, Ostend. The pilot avoided Nieport City, and dropped 16 225kg bombs between St Joris and Kappelle, accidentally killing two civilians at St Joris. The pilot stayed with the damaged aircraft so that the crew could escape. Wireless Operator\Air Gunner Harry Russell Winter was found drowned in the canal with a torn parachute. Halifax EY-X with Pilot William Hoffman aboard crashed at 17.59 at a farm near Great Noordhof.
The crew who survived the crash were F/O W I F Bell, (Navigator), F/O Ronald E F Collier (Bomb Aimer), P/O Kevin W Burns, (Flight Engineer), Sergeant George R G Marley, (Mid-Upper Gunner) and Sergeant Robert C Laing, (Rear Gunner). They were all taken Prisoner. There is a book about the crash, “The Last Flight of Halifax Mk 111 MZ-340 EY-X” by Jean-Pierre Vandorpe.
www.aviationheritage.eu/nl/content/monument-slachtoffers-...
A local comments on a Dutch Forum site that he witnessed the crash, Russell is believed to have struck his head on the door frame and was unconscious when he fell. His parachute did not open.
www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/viewtopic.php?t=8897&s...
Wakefield, Charles A,
WAKEFIELD, CHARLES ALBERT
Rank: Yeoman of Signals
Service No: C/J 39854
Date of Death: 15/02/1942
Age: 42
Service: Royal Navy, H.M.S. President III
Panel Reference 58, 2.
Memorial CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Albert and Mary Louise Wakefield; husband of Ethel Wakefield, of Norwich, Norfolk.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2473562/WAKEFIE...
On the 1900 census, the 1 year old Charles A, (Born Hellesdon, Norfolk) was recorded at 159 Aylsham Road, Norwich. At that time this part of Aylsham Road fell within the Parish of St Mary Hellesdon.
This was the household of his parents, Albert E, (aged 25 and a Brickmaker from Heydon, Norfolk) and Louisa, (aged 22 and a Tailoress from Horsford, Norfolk).
The most likely match on the GRO index of marriages is that of a Charles A Wakefield to an Ethel Crossfield that took place in St Georges, Hanover Square, London in the July to September 1929 quarter.
15/02/1942
Empire Spring, steamship
BROWN, Walter T, Act/Able Seaman, C/JX 186153, (President III, O/P), MPK
CHAPMAN, Charles O, Ordinary Telegraphist, P/JX 197809, (President III, O/P), MPK
COX, Albert E G, Convoy Signalmam, C/JX 174046, (Pembroke, O/P), MPK
DIBBEN, Arthur D H, Captain, (Eaglet, O/P), MPK
HARRISON, Arthur, Act/Able Seaman, D/JX 214735, (President III, O/P), MPK
JEFFS, Alexander G, Ordinary Signalman, C/JX 185518, (President III, O/P), MPK
STARKEY, Herbert J, Act/Able Seaman, C/JX 223501, (President III, O/P), MPK
THOMPSON, Robert, Leading Signalman, C/JX 185536, (Pembroke, O/P), MPK
WAKEFIELD, Charles A, Convoy Yeoman of Signals, C/J 39854, (Pembroke, O/P), MPK
WATSON, Lewis T, Convoy Signalmam, C/JX 174071, (Pembroke, O/P), MPK
www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1942-02FEB.htm
Empire Spring
Empire Spring was a 6,946 GRT CAM ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Launched on 8 March 1941 and completed in June 1941. Torpedoed on 14 February 1942 and sunk by U-576 in the North Atlantic.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Empire_ships_(Si%E2%80%93Sy)#Empire_Spring
She had left the Mersey on the 5th February 1942 in Convoy. The convoy broke up on the 15th February 1942 and the Empire Spring went missing, presumed hit by German Submarine U-576 and sunk with her crew of 42 and 5 Gunners.
www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?30961
Watson, Arthur C.
WATSON, ARTHUR CHARLES
Rank: Chief Engine Room Artificer
Service No: C/M 34510
Date of Death: 24/08/1940
Age: 37
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy, H.M.S. Penzance
Panel Reference 37, 2.
Memorial CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Henry and Alice Watson; husband of Elsie Edith Watson, of Norwich, Norfolk.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2473733/WATSON,...
At 20.38 hours on 24 Aug, 1940, HMS Penzance (L 28) (Cdr A.J. Wavish, RN), escorting the convoy SC-1, was hit by one torpedo from U-37, broke in two and sank in a few minutes southwest of Iceland. When the stern section sank the unsecured depth charges detonated, killing some of the survivors swimming in the water and slightly damaging the U-boat. Nevertheless two ships from the convoy stopped to pick up survivors. Twelve men were picked up by the British steam merchant Fylingdale, but one of them later died of injures and was buried at sea. Seven men were picked up by the Blairmore, which was torpedoed and sunk by the same U-boat later that night. All men from the sloop survived the second sinking, were rescued after about 17 hours by the Swedish motor merchant Eknaren (Master Erik Kallstrom) and landed at Baltimore.
Complement 108 officers and men (90 dead and 18 survivors).
www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/474.html
Webster, Stanley G
WEBSTER, STANLEY GORDON
Rank: Serjeant
Service No: T/45514
Date of Death: 08/07/1942
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps
Grave Reference 3. G. 7.
Cemetery BEIRUT WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Thomas William and Florence Elizabeth Webster, of Norwich.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2188096/WEBSTER...
Woods, Charles W.
Probably
WOODS, CHARLES WILLIAM
Rank: Driver
Service No: T/221302
Date of Death: 14/01/1944
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps
Grave Reference II. D. 26.
Cemetery BARI WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of William and Florance Woods, of Norwich; husband of Hannah Elizabeth Woods, of Norwich.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2077260/WOODS,%...
Yallop, John S
(Only match)
YALLOP, JOHN SIDNEY
Rank: Able Seaman
Service No: C/J 96159
Date of Death: 17/09/1940
Service: Royal Navy, H.M.S. Kent
Panel Reference 36, 2.
Memorial CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Husband of M. M. Yallop.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2474343/YALLOP,...
Photograph of HMS Kent
www.naval-history.net/Photo06caKent1NP.jpg
September 1940
17th Carried out bombardment of Fort Cappuzo.
Hit by torpedo from Italian aircraft during air attacks and disabled.
Taken in tow by HMS NUBIAN.
19th Arrived in tow at Alexandria, where emergency repairs were carried out.
www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CA-Kent.htm
John was one of 33 crew members killed in the attack including a father and son.
On 15 September 1940 the battleship Valiant, the aircraft carrier Illustrious, Kent, the anti-aircraft cruisers Calcutta and Coventry, and seven destroyers left Alexandria bound for Benghazi. During the night of 16/17 September 1940, aircraft from the Illustrious mined the harbour of Benghazi. They also attacked shipping in the harbour with torpedoes and bombs, sinking two destroyers and two merchant ships. Kent and two destroyers were detached to bombard Bardia while returning to Alexandria. During the night of 17/18 September 1940 the ship was hit in the stern by a torpedo from Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers from the 279th Independent Torpedo Squadron (Italian: Squadriglie Autonomo Aerosiluranti) led by Carlo Emanuele Buscaglia. She was towed back to base by the destroyers with great difficulty.[
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Kent_(54)
The Italian Army had crossed the Libyan border into Egypt a few days earlier and had re-taken Fort Capuzzo. The British Army had retreated to prepared position, leaving only a light screen of troops to delay the Italians advance. Part of the deception was to make the screen seen much stronger than it was. In deterring the Italian advance up the coastal road, the Royal Navy bombardment was part of that deception.
Dawn raids saw officers in Oldham execute six drugs warrants as part of a crackdown on drug dealing in the district.
At around 6.15am this morning (Thursday 2 July 2020), officers from GMP’s Oldham division raided an address on Chamber Road, Coppice, and at five properties in the Glodwick area.
The action comes after concerns were raised in the community regarding the dealing of drugs in the area.
Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Prescott, of GMP’s Oldham division, said: “We hope that today’s operation demonstrates not only how keen we are to tackle drugs across the district and the Force, but also our endeavours to listen to community concerns and to act upon them.
“Today’s action is a significant part of tackling the issues around drugs that we see too often in our societies and the devastating impact they can have on individuals, their families and loved ones as well as the wider community.
“This action will have caused a huge amount of disruption for the criminals who seek to infiltrate these substances onto our streets and degrade the quality of life for so many.
“Anyone with concerns about the dealing of such drugs in their area should not hesitate to contact police; safe in the knowledge that we are prepared to strike back against those who operate in this destructive and illegal industry.”
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit
You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
You can access many of our services online at www.gmp.police.uk
Or at least I think it is. Situated in a corner of a field at the junction of Sawston Road and High Street, Babraham.
Raids were carried out this morning, Tuesday 16 March 2021, at 18 addresses in Wigan.
The raids were led by officers from GMP's Wigan district, Specialist Operations, Serious and Organised Crime Group and Challenger Teams from across the force.
Superintendent Mark Kenny of GMP’s Wigan District said: “GMP is committed to clamping down on drugs and the hugely detrimental impact they have on our communities. Today's operation highlights that, and means that individuals who have blighted their community have been arrested.
"Illegal drugs and, the organised criminal gangs who seek to control their supply, have a corrosive effect on our communities and attract further criminality to the areas they operate. Today's operation follows a long and complex investigation which will continue over the coming days.
"I would ask that if anyone has concerns about drug dealing or crime where they live, that they report it to us on 101 or 999 if it’s an emergency, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also give us information via LiveChat on our website at www.gmp.police.uk.”
Depuis sa création en 1985, le RAID (Recherche, Assistance, Intervention et Dissuasion) participe sur l’ensemble du territoire à la lutte contre toutes les formes de terrorisme et de criminalité organisée dont certaines opérations ont fait l’objet d’un important retentissement médiatique.
Sa devise : "Servir, sans Faillir"
Plus d'infos : ick.li/1zb8gO
Depuis sa création en 1985, le RAID (Recherche, Assistance, Intervention et Dissuasion) participe sur l’ensemble du territoire à la lutte contre toutes les formes de terrorisme et de criminalité organisée dont certaines opérations ont fait l’objet d’un important retentissement médiatique.
Sa devise : "Servir, sans Faillir"
Plus d'infos : ick.li/1zb8gO
This morning, Friday 25 October, saw raids on homes of suspected drug dealers as part of Challenger.
Agencies across Greater Manchester have joined forces to declare war on organised criminal gangs across the region.
This week has seen the launch of Challenger, the largest ever multi-agency response to tackling organised criminal gangs (OCGS) in Manchester's history.
Over the past five days, more than 100 warrants have been carried out by numerous agencies to root out the drug dealers, loan sharks, rogue landlords and counterfeit good suppliers who are the lynchpins of these criminal networks.
The aim of Challenger is to identify every single organised crime group in existence and use all the weapons available to agencies across both Manchester and the UK to disrupt, dismantle and destroy these gangs.
This week alone, more than 50 suspected members of criminal gangs have been arrested for a variety of offences including drugs, firearms and money laundering.
More than £330,000 worth of drugs were recovered, £25,000 in cash seized along with weapons such as high-powered air rifles, a BB gun, a Taser and a baton. Seven high powered cars were also seized.
Up to 50 tonnes worth of counterfeit goods - worth at least £2m - including fake trainers, watches and clothing, were also seized from three properties in the Strangeways area, all of which were stocked to the brim across several different floors with fake goods.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebekah Sutcliffe, who heads Challenger for Greater Manchester Police, said: "Organised crime groups have a corrosive and insidious effect on our communities. These sorts of people mistakenly believe they 'own their turf' and use violence and intimidation to make people's lives a misery.
"However, this week we have brought the fight to these gangs and through Challenger we are now declaring war on these criminal networks who for too long have been bullying communities and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.
"Challenger is not about cutting off the head of a monster - it is about systematically dismantling these gangs member by member and making it impossible for them to operate. To do that, we need to get into the ribs of these people and hit them where it hurts.
"By working in partnership with so many other agencies, we can attack these gangs from every angle. We can expose benefit scams and leave these people penniless; we can seize their flash motors which are often not insured or taxed; we can shut down nail bars, takeaways and pubs where organised criminals often launder their dirty cash and we stop loan sharks from bullying victims into taking out exorbitant loans which fund their criminality.
"Through this partnership approach, Challenger will unmask every single organised crime group in Manchester and use every available tool to bring them crashing down."
There are currently more than 160 known organised criminal gangs in Greater Manchester, costing the local economy between 850m and 1.7bn each year.
However, it is thought they may be up to 500 of these networks in operation.
Thanks to Challenger, a central taskforce has been set up which will gather intelligence and build up an accurate picture of every single criminal gang in Manchester.
The taskforce will then work with partners from the local community, including neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Immigration Enforcement, the England Illegal Money Lending Team, housing providers, the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, HMRC and other agencies to draw up bespoke plans for how best to dismantle these gangs.
In addition to this important local approach, Challenger is also being supported by the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officers from these national agencies are providing regular support and expertise about how best to tackle organised criminality.
But central to the success of Challenger will be the support of the local community and people coming forward with information about criminality in their area.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sutcliffe said: "There may be a misconception among people that organised criminality is all about drugs and guns and that it does not affect their lives. They could not be more wrong.
"Organised criminality is not just about firearms and drug dealing - it is happening on people's doorsteps every day without them realising it.
"The way these gangs fund their criminal empires is through the sale of counterfeit goods, loan sharking, electricity, housing and benefit scams, human trafficking and rogue landlords.
"If you suspect any of this is happening in your community, you need to report it because the endgame of these sorts of offences are the brutal shootings we saw last year that resulted in innocent people being killed.
"But, with your help, we can break this chain. If you don't buy counterfeit goods or turn to loan sharks you are cutting off the funds for these criminals to buy guns and drugs. If you report housing scams you will be making it impossible for these gangs to have bases from which to operate. If you report someone who is driving around in a flash motor you know is not insured, you will be stopping these cars from being used as getaway vehicle during serious crime.
"This is a war we can win with the public's help. We can give communities back to law-abiding people. If you help us to identify the foundations these empires are built on, we will bring them crashing down. And if you wish to report anything anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers."
National Crime Agency regional head of investigations, Steve Baldwin, said: "Organised crime deprives people of their security and prosperity, leads to loss of life and costs the UK well over £20billion each year. It directly affects all of our communities. The NCA's role is to lead the UK's fight against organised crime. But to do that we need to work closely with our law enforcement partners like Greater Manchester Police, as we have done in supporting this operation. Together we will use every technique available to relentlessly and continuously disrupt serious organised criminals and make their lives as difficult as possible."
Jim Battle, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "These so-called 'Mr Bigs' think they can control our communities with a grip of fear. But the action taken by police, local councils and other agencies this week sends a clear message to these abhorrent individuals that there is no place for you in our communities - you will be hunted down and you will be brought to justice.
"The fight is ongoing and we can only keep up the pressure on these criminal gangs with the support of our communities across Greater Manchester. I thank the decent, law-abiding people for their continued help and urge you all to stand with us so together we can bring down these criminals and build safer communities."
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
Depuis sa création en 1985, le RAID (Recherche, Assistance, Intervention et Dissuasion) participe sur l’ensemble du territoire à la lutte contre toutes les formes de terrorisme et de criminalité organisée dont certaines opérations ont fait l’objet d’un important retentissement médiatique.
Sa devise : "Servir, sans Faillir"
Plus d'infos : ick.li/1zb8gO
This morning, Friday 25 October, saw raids on homes of suspected drug dealers as part of Challenger.
Agencies across Greater Manchester have joined forces to declare war on organised criminal gangs across the region.
This week has seen the launch of Challenger, the largest ever multi-agency response to tackling organised criminal gangs (OCGS) in Manchester's history.
Over the past five days, more than 100 warrants have been carried out by numerous agencies to root out the drug dealers, loan sharks, rogue landlords and counterfeit good suppliers who are the lynchpins of these criminal networks.
The aim of Challenger is to identify every single organised crime group in existence and use all the weapons available to agencies across both Manchester and the UK to disrupt, dismantle and destroy these gangs.
This week alone, more than 50 suspected members of criminal gangs have been arrested for a variety of offences including drugs, firearms and money laundering.
More than £330,000 worth of drugs were recovered, £25,000 in cash seized along with weapons such as high-powered air rifles, a BB gun, a Taser and a baton. Seven high powered cars were also seized.
Up to 50 tonnes worth of counterfeit goods - worth at least £2m - including fake trainers, watches and clothing, were also seized from three properties in the Strangeways area, all of which were stocked to the brim across several different floors with fake goods.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebekah Sutcliffe, who heads Challenger for Greater Manchester Police, said: "Organised crime groups have a corrosive and insidious effect on our communities. These sorts of people mistakenly believe they 'own their turf' and use violence and intimidation to make people's lives a misery.
"However, this week we have brought the fight to these gangs and through Challenger we are now declaring war on these criminal networks who for too long have been bullying communities and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.
"Challenger is not about cutting off the head of a monster - it is about systematically dismantling these gangs member by member and making it impossible for them to operate. To do that, we need to get into the ribs of these people and hit them where it hurts.
"By working in partnership with so many other agencies, we can attack these gangs from every angle. We can expose benefit scams and leave these people penniless; we can seize their flash motors which are often not insured or taxed; we can shut down nail bars, takeaways and pubs where organised criminals often launder their dirty cash and we stop loan sharks from bullying victims into taking out exorbitant loans which fund their criminality.
"Through this partnership approach, Challenger will unmask every single organised crime group in Manchester and use every available tool to bring them crashing down."
There are currently more than 160 known organised criminal gangs in Greater Manchester, costing the local economy between 850m and 1.7bn each year.
However, it is thought they may be up to 500 of these networks in operation.
Thanks to Challenger, a central taskforce has been set up which will gather intelligence and build up an accurate picture of every single criminal gang in Manchester.
The taskforce will then work with partners from the local community, including neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Immigration Enforcement, the England Illegal Money Lending Team, housing providers, the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, HMRC and other agencies to draw up bespoke plans for how best to dismantle these gangs.
In addition to this important local approach, Challenger is also being supported by the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officers from these national agencies are providing regular support and expertise about how best to tackle organised criminality.
But central to the success of Challenger will be the support of the local community and people coming forward with information about criminality in their area.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sutcliffe said: "There may be a misconception among people that organised criminality is all about drugs and guns and that it does not affect their lives. They could not be more wrong.
"Organised criminality is not just about firearms and drug dealing - it is happening on people's doorsteps every day without them realising it.
"The way these gangs fund their criminal empires is through the sale of counterfeit goods, loan sharking, electricity, housing and benefit scams, human trafficking and rogue landlords.
"If you suspect any of this is happening in your community, you need to report it because the endgame of these sorts of offences are the brutal shootings we saw last year that resulted in innocent people being killed.
"But, with your help, we can break this chain. If you don't buy counterfeit goods or turn to loan sharks you are cutting off the funds for these criminals to buy guns and drugs. If you report housing scams you will be making it impossible for these gangs to have bases from which to operate. If you report someone who is driving around in a flash motor you know is not insured, you will be stopping these cars from being used as getaway vehicle during serious crime.
"This is a war we can win with the public's help. We can give communities back to law-abiding people. If you help us to identify the foundations these empires are built on, we will bring them crashing down. And if you wish to report anything anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers."
National Crime Agency regional head of investigations, Steve Baldwin, said: "Organised crime deprives people of their security and prosperity, leads to loss of life and costs the UK well over £20billion each year. It directly affects all of our communities. The NCA's role is to lead the UK's fight against organised crime. But to do that we need to work closely with our law enforcement partners like Greater Manchester Police, as we have done in supporting this operation. Together we will use every technique available to relentlessly and continuously disrupt serious organised criminals and make their lives as difficult as possible."
Jim Battle, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "These so-called 'Mr Bigs' think they can control our communities with a grip of fear. But the action taken by police, local councils and other agencies this week sends a clear message to these abhorrent individuals that there is no place for you in our communities - you will be hunted down and you will be brought to justice.
"The fight is ongoing and we can only keep up the pressure on these criminal gangs with the support of our communities across Greater Manchester. I thank the decent, law-abiding people for their continued help and urge you all to stand with us so together we can bring down these criminals and build safer communities."
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
Raids were carried out this morning, Tuesday 16 March 2021, at 18 addresses in Wigan.
The raids were led by officers from GMP's Wigan district, Specialist Operations, Serious and Organised Crime Group and Challenger Teams from across the force.
Superintendent Mark Kenny of GMP’s Wigan District said: “GMP is committed to clamping down on drugs and the hugely detrimental impact they have on our communities. Today's operation highlights that, and means that individuals who have blighted their community have been arrested.
"Illegal drugs and, the organised criminal gangs who seek to control their supply, have a corrosive effect on our communities and attract further criminality to the areas they operate. Today's operation follows a long and complex investigation which will continue over the coming days.
"I would ask that if anyone has concerns about drug dealing or crime where they live, that they report it to us on 101 or 999 if it’s an emergency, or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also give us information via LiveChat on our website at www.gmp.police.uk.”
This morning, Friday 25 October, saw raids on homes of suspected drug dealers as part of Challenger.
Agencies across Greater Manchester have joined forces to declare war on organised criminal gangs across the region.
This week has seen the launch of Challenger, the largest ever multi-agency response to tackling organised criminal gangs (OCGS) in Manchester's history.
Over the past five days, more than 100 warrants have been carried out by numerous agencies to root out the drug dealers, loan sharks, rogue landlords and counterfeit good suppliers who are the lynchpins of these criminal networks.
The aim of Challenger is to identify every single organised crime group in existence and use all the weapons available to agencies across both Manchester and the UK to disrupt, dismantle and destroy these gangs.
This week alone, more than 50 suspected members of criminal gangs have been arrested for a variety of offences including drugs, firearms and money laundering.
More than £330,000 worth of drugs were recovered, £25,000 in cash seized along with weapons such as high-powered air rifles, a BB gun, a Taser and a baton. Seven high powered cars were also seized.
Up to 50 tonnes worth of counterfeit goods - worth at least £2m - including fake trainers, watches and clothing, were also seized from three properties in the Strangeways area, all of which were stocked to the brim across several different floors with fake goods.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebekah Sutcliffe, who heads Challenger for Greater Manchester Police, said: "Organised crime groups have a corrosive and insidious effect on our communities. These sorts of people mistakenly believe they 'own their turf' and use violence and intimidation to make people's lives a misery.
"However, this week we have brought the fight to these gangs and through Challenger we are now declaring war on these criminal networks who for too long have been bullying communities and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.
"Challenger is not about cutting off the head of a monster - it is about systematically dismantling these gangs member by member and making it impossible for them to operate. To do that, we need to get into the ribs of these people and hit them where it hurts.
"By working in partnership with so many other agencies, we can attack these gangs from every angle. We can expose benefit scams and leave these people penniless; we can seize their flash motors which are often not insured or taxed; we can shut down nail bars, takeaways and pubs where organised criminals often launder their dirty cash and we stop loan sharks from bullying victims into taking out exorbitant loans which fund their criminality.
"Through this partnership approach, Challenger will unmask every single organised crime group in Manchester and use every available tool to bring them crashing down."
There are currently more than 160 known organised criminal gangs in Greater Manchester, costing the local economy between 850m and 1.7bn each year.
However, it is thought they may be up to 500 of these networks in operation.
Thanks to Challenger, a central taskforce has been set up which will gather intelligence and build up an accurate picture of every single criminal gang in Manchester.
The taskforce will then work with partners from the local community, including neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Immigration Enforcement, the England Illegal Money Lending Team, housing providers, the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, HMRC and other agencies to draw up bespoke plans for how best to dismantle these gangs.
In addition to this important local approach, Challenger is also being supported by the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officers from these national agencies are providing regular support and expertise about how best to tackle organised criminality.
But central to the success of Challenger will be the support of the local community and people coming forward with information about criminality in their area.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sutcliffe said: "There may be a misconception among people that organised criminality is all about drugs and guns and that it does not affect their lives. They could not be more wrong.
"Organised criminality is not just about firearms and drug dealing - it is happening on people's doorsteps every day without them realising it.
"The way these gangs fund their criminal empires is through the sale of counterfeit goods, loan sharking, electricity, housing and benefit scams, human trafficking and rogue landlords.
"If you suspect any of this is happening in your community, you need to report it because the endgame of these sorts of offences are the brutal shootings we saw last year that resulted in innocent people being killed.
"But, with your help, we can break this chain. If you don't buy counterfeit goods or turn to loan sharks you are cutting off the funds for these criminals to buy guns and drugs. If you report housing scams you will be making it impossible for these gangs to have bases from which to operate. If you report someone who is driving around in a flash motor you know is not insured, you will be stopping these cars from being used as getaway vehicle during serious crime.
"This is a war we can win with the public's help. We can give communities back to law-abiding people. If you help us to identify the foundations these empires are built on, we will bring them crashing down. And if you wish to report anything anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers."
National Crime Agency regional head of investigations, Steve Baldwin, said: "Organised crime deprives people of their security and prosperity, leads to loss of life and costs the UK well over £20billion each year. It directly affects all of our communities. The NCA's role is to lead the UK's fight against organised crime. But to do that we need to work closely with our law enforcement partners like Greater Manchester Police, as we have done in supporting this operation. Together we will use every technique available to relentlessly and continuously disrupt serious organised criminals and make their lives as difficult as possible."
Jim Battle, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "These so-called 'Mr Bigs' think they can control our communities with a grip of fear. But the action taken by police, local councils and other agencies this week sends a clear message to these abhorrent individuals that there is no place for you in our communities - you will be hunted down and you will be brought to justice.
"The fight is ongoing and we can only keep up the pressure on these criminal gangs with the support of our communities across Greater Manchester. I thank the decent, law-abiding people for their continued help and urge you all to stand with us so together we can bring down these criminals and build safer communities."
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
A prisoner is removed.
This morning, Friday 25 October, saw raids on homes of suspected drug dealers as part of Challenger.
Agencies across Greater Manchester have joined forces to declare war on organised criminal gangs across the region.
This week has seen the launch of Challenger, the largest ever multi-agency response to tackling organised criminal gangs (OCGS) in Manchester's history.
Over the past five days, more than 100 warrants have been carried out by numerous agencies to root out the drug dealers, loan sharks, rogue landlords and counterfeit good suppliers who are the lynchpins of these criminal networks.
The aim of Challenger is to identify every single organised crime group in existence and use all the weapons available to agencies across both Manchester and the UK to disrupt, dismantle and destroy these gangs.
This week alone, more than 50 suspected members of criminal gangs have been arrested for a variety of offences including drugs, firearms and money laundering.
More than £330,000 worth of drugs were recovered, £25,000 in cash seized along with weapons such as high-powered air rifles, a BB gun, a Taser and a baton. Seven high powered cars were also seized.
Up to 50 tonnes worth of counterfeit goods - worth at least £2m - including fake trainers, watches and clothing, were also seized from three properties in the Strangeways area, all of which were stocked to the brim across several different floors with fake goods.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebekah Sutcliffe, who heads Challenger for Greater Manchester Police, said: "Organised crime groups have a corrosive and insidious effect on our communities. These sorts of people mistakenly believe they 'own their turf' and use violence and intimidation to make people's lives a misery.
"However, this week we have brought the fight to these gangs and through Challenger we are now declaring war on these criminal networks who for too long have been bullying communities and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.
"Challenger is not about cutting off the head of a monster - it is about systematically dismantling these gangs member by member and making it impossible for them to operate. To do that, we need to get into the ribs of these people and hit them where it hurts.
"By working in partnership with so many other agencies, we can attack these gangs from every angle. We can expose benefit scams and leave these people penniless; we can seize their flash motors which are often not insured or taxed; we can shut down nail bars, takeaways and pubs where organised criminals often launder their dirty cash and we stop loan sharks from bullying victims into taking out exorbitant loans which fund their criminality.
"Through this partnership approach, Challenger will unmask every single organised crime group in Manchester and use every available tool to bring them crashing down."
There are currently more than 160 known organised criminal gangs in Greater Manchester, costing the local economy between 850m and 1.7bn each year.
However, it is thought they may be up to 500 of these networks in operation.
Thanks to Challenger, a central taskforce has been set up which will gather intelligence and build up an accurate picture of every single criminal gang in Manchester.
The taskforce will then work with partners from the local community, including neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Immigration Enforcement, the England Illegal Money Lending Team, housing providers, the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, HMRC and other agencies to draw up bespoke plans for how best to dismantle these gangs.
In addition to this important local approach, Challenger is also being supported by the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officers from these national agencies are providing regular support and expertise about how best to tackle organised criminality.
But central to the success of Challenger will be the support of the local community and people coming forward with information about criminality in their area.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sutcliffe said: "There may be a misconception among people that organised criminality is all about drugs and guns and that it does not affect their lives. They could not be more wrong.
"Organised criminality is not just about firearms and drug dealing - it is happening on people's doorsteps every day without them realising it.
"The way these gangs fund their criminal empires is through the sale of counterfeit goods, loan sharking, electricity, housing and benefit scams, human trafficking and rogue landlords.
"If you suspect any of this is happening in your community, you need to report it because the endgame of these sorts of offences are the brutal shootings we saw last year that resulted in innocent people being killed.
"But, with your help, we can break this chain. If you don't buy counterfeit goods or turn to loan sharks you are cutting off the funds for these criminals to buy guns and drugs. If you report housing scams you will be making it impossible for these gangs to have bases from which to operate. If you report someone who is driving around in a flash motor you know is not insured, you will be stopping these cars from being used as getaway vehicle during serious crime.
"This is a war we can win with the public's help. We can give communities back to law-abiding people. If you help us to identify the foundations these empires are built on, we will bring them crashing down. And if you wish to report anything anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers."
National Crime Agency regional head of investigations, Steve Baldwin, said: "Organised crime deprives people of their security and prosperity, leads to loss of life and costs the UK well over £20billion each year. It directly affects all of our communities. The NCA's role is to lead the UK's fight against organised crime. But to do that we need to work closely with our law enforcement partners like Greater Manchester Police, as we have done in supporting this operation. Together we will use every technique available to relentlessly and continuously disrupt serious organised criminals and make their lives as difficult as possible."
Jim Battle, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "These so-called 'Mr Bigs' think they can control our communities with a grip of fear. But the action taken by police, local councils and other agencies this week sends a clear message to these abhorrent individuals that there is no place for you in our communities - you will be hunted down and you will be brought to justice.
"The fight is ongoing and we can only keep up the pressure on these criminal gangs with the support of our communities across Greater Manchester. I thank the decent, law-abiding people for their continued help and urge you all to stand with us so together we can bring down these criminals and build safer communities."
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
Officers enter a property.
This morning, Friday 25 October, saw raids on homes of suspected drug dealers as part of Challenger.
Agencies across Greater Manchester have joined forces to declare war on organised criminal gangs across the region.
This week has seen the launch of Challenger, the largest ever multi-agency response to tackling organised criminal gangs (OCGS) in Manchester's history.
Over the past five days, more than 100 warrants have been carried out by numerous agencies to root out the drug dealers, loan sharks, rogue landlords and counterfeit good suppliers who are the lynchpins of these criminal networks.
The aim of Challenger is to identify every single organised crime group in existence and use all the weapons available to agencies across both Manchester and the UK to disrupt, dismantle and destroy these gangs.
This week alone, more than 50 suspected members of criminal gangs have been arrested for a variety of offences including drugs, firearms and money laundering.
More than £330,000 worth of drugs were recovered, £25,000 in cash seized along with weapons such as high-powered air rifles, a BB gun, a Taser and a baton. Seven high powered cars were also seized.
Up to 50 tonnes worth of counterfeit goods - worth at least £2m - including fake trainers, watches and clothing, were also seized from three properties in the Strangeways area, all of which were stocked to the brim across several different floors with fake goods.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebekah Sutcliffe, who heads Challenger for Greater Manchester Police, said: "Organised crime groups have a corrosive and insidious effect on our communities. These sorts of people mistakenly believe they 'own their turf' and use violence and intimidation to make people's lives a misery.
"However, this week we have brought the fight to these gangs and through Challenger we are now declaring war on these criminal networks who for too long have been bullying communities and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.
"Challenger is not about cutting off the head of a monster - it is about systematically dismantling these gangs member by member and making it impossible for them to operate. To do that, we need to get into the ribs of these people and hit them where it hurts.
"By working in partnership with so many other agencies, we can attack these gangs from every angle. We can expose benefit scams and leave these people penniless; we can seize their flash motors which are often not insured or taxed; we can shut down nail bars, takeaways and pubs where organised criminals often launder their dirty cash and we stop loan sharks from bullying victims into taking out exorbitant loans which fund their criminality.
"Through this partnership approach, Challenger will unmask every single organised crime group in Manchester and use every available tool to bring them crashing down."
There are currently more than 160 known organised criminal gangs in Greater Manchester, costing the local economy between 850m and 1.7bn each year.
However, it is thought they may be up to 500 of these networks in operation.
Thanks to Challenger, a central taskforce has been set up which will gather intelligence and build up an accurate picture of every single criminal gang in Manchester.
The taskforce will then work with partners from the local community, including neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Immigration Enforcement, the England Illegal Money Lending Team, housing providers, the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, HMRC and other agencies to draw up bespoke plans for how best to dismantle these gangs.
In addition to this important local approach, Challenger is also being supported by the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officers from these national agencies are providing regular support and expertise about how best to tackle organised criminality.
But central to the success of Challenger will be the support of the local community and people coming forward with information about criminality in their area.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sutcliffe said: "There may be a misconception among people that organised criminality is all about drugs and guns and that it does not affect their lives. They could not be more wrong.
"Organised criminality is not just about firearms and drug dealing - it is happening on people's doorsteps every day without them realising it.
"The way these gangs fund their criminal empires is through the sale of counterfeit goods, loan sharking, electricity, housing and benefit scams, human trafficking and rogue landlords.
"If you suspect any of this is happening in your community, you need to report it because the endgame of these sorts of offences are the brutal shootings we saw last year that resulted in innocent people being killed.
"But, with your help, we can break this chain. If you don't buy counterfeit goods or turn to loan sharks you are cutting off the funds for these criminals to buy guns and drugs. If you report housing scams you will be making it impossible for these gangs to have bases from which to operate. If you report someone who is driving around in a flash motor you know is not insured, you will be stopping these cars from being used as getaway vehicle during serious crime.
"This is a war we can win with the public's help. We can give communities back to law-abiding people. If you help us to identify the foundations these empires are built on, we will bring them crashing down. And if you wish to report anything anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers."
National Crime Agency regional head of investigations, Steve Baldwin, said: "Organised crime deprives people of their security and prosperity, leads to loss of life and costs the UK well over £20billion each year. It directly affects all of our communities. The NCA's role is to lead the UK's fight against organised crime. But to do that we need to work closely with our law enforcement partners like Greater Manchester Police, as we have done in supporting this operation. Together we will use every technique available to relentlessly and continuously disrupt serious organised criminals and make their lives as difficult as possible."
Jim Battle, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "These so-called 'Mr Bigs' think they can control our communities with a grip of fear. But the action taken by police, local councils and other agencies this week sends a clear message to these abhorrent individuals that there is no place for you in our communities - you will be hunted down and you will be brought to justice.
"The fight is ongoing and we can only keep up the pressure on these criminal gangs with the support of our communities across Greater Manchester. I thank the decent, law-abiding people for their continued help and urge you all to stand with us so together we can bring down these criminals and build safer communities."
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
Amsterdam (NL) > Göteborg > Jokkmokk (S) > Narvik (N) > Sortland > Tromsø > Alta > Levi (FIN) > Posio > Rovaniemi > Helsinki > Amsterdam (NL), 02.2022
Amsterdam (NL) > Göteborg (N) > Jokkmokk (S) > Narvik (N) > Sortland > Tromsø > Alta > Levi (FIN) > Posio > Rovaniemi > Helsinki > Amsterdam (NL), 02.2022
This morning, Friday 25 October, saw raids on homes of suspected drug dealers as part of Challenger.
Agencies across Greater Manchester have joined forces to declare war on organised criminal gangs across the region.
This week has seen the launch of Challenger, the largest ever multi-agency response to tackling organised criminal gangs (OCGS) in Manchester's history.
Over the past five days, more than 100 warrants have been carried out by numerous agencies to root out the drug dealers, loan sharks, rogue landlords and counterfeit good suppliers who are the lynchpins of these criminal networks.
The aim of Challenger is to identify every single organised crime group in existence and use all the weapons available to agencies across both Manchester and the UK to disrupt, dismantle and destroy these gangs.
This week alone, more than 50 suspected members of criminal gangs have been arrested for a variety of offences including drugs, firearms and money laundering.
More than £330,000 worth of drugs were recovered, £25,000 in cash seized along with weapons such as high-powered air rifles, a BB gun, a Taser and a baton. Seven high powered cars were also seized.
Up to 50 tonnes worth of counterfeit goods - worth at least £2m - including fake trainers, watches and clothing, were also seized from three properties in the Strangeways area, all of which were stocked to the brim across several different floors with fake goods.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rebekah Sutcliffe, who heads Challenger for Greater Manchester Police, said: "Organised crime groups have a corrosive and insidious effect on our communities. These sorts of people mistakenly believe they 'own their turf' and use violence and intimidation to make people's lives a misery.
"However, this week we have brought the fight to these gangs and through Challenger we are now declaring war on these criminal networks who for too long have been bullying communities and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.
"Challenger is not about cutting off the head of a monster - it is about systematically dismantling these gangs member by member and making it impossible for them to operate. To do that, we need to get into the ribs of these people and hit them where it hurts.
"By working in partnership with so many other agencies, we can attack these gangs from every angle. We can expose benefit scams and leave these people penniless; we can seize their flash motors which are often not insured or taxed; we can shut down nail bars, takeaways and pubs where organised criminals often launder their dirty cash and we stop loan sharks from bullying victims into taking out exorbitant loans which fund their criminality.
"Through this partnership approach, Challenger will unmask every single organised crime group in Manchester and use every available tool to bring them crashing down."
There are currently more than 160 known organised criminal gangs in Greater Manchester, costing the local economy between 850m and 1.7bn each year.
However, it is thought they may be up to 500 of these networks in operation.
Thanks to Challenger, a central taskforce has been set up which will gather intelligence and build up an accurate picture of every single criminal gang in Manchester.
The taskforce will then work with partners from the local community, including neighbourhood policing teams, local authorities, Immigration Enforcement, the England Illegal Money Lending Team, housing providers, the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, HMRC and other agencies to draw up bespoke plans for how best to dismantle these gangs.
In addition to this important local approach, Challenger is also being supported by the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officers from these national agencies are providing regular support and expertise about how best to tackle organised criminality.
But central to the success of Challenger will be the support of the local community and people coming forward with information about criminality in their area.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sutcliffe said: "There may be a misconception among people that organised criminality is all about drugs and guns and that it does not affect their lives. They could not be more wrong.
"Organised criminality is not just about firearms and drug dealing - it is happening on people's doorsteps every day without them realising it.
"The way these gangs fund their criminal empires is through the sale of counterfeit goods, loan sharking, electricity, housing and benefit scams, human trafficking and rogue landlords.
"If you suspect any of this is happening in your community, you need to report it because the endgame of these sorts of offences are the brutal shootings we saw last year that resulted in innocent people being killed.
"But, with your help, we can break this chain. If you don't buy counterfeit goods or turn to loan sharks you are cutting off the funds for these criminals to buy guns and drugs. If you report housing scams you will be making it impossible for these gangs to have bases from which to operate. If you report someone who is driving around in a flash motor you know is not insured, you will be stopping these cars from being used as getaway vehicle during serious crime.
"This is a war we can win with the public's help. We can give communities back to law-abiding people. If you help us to identify the foundations these empires are built on, we will bring them crashing down. And if you wish to report anything anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers."
National Crime Agency regional head of investigations, Steve Baldwin, said: "Organised crime deprives people of their security and prosperity, leads to loss of life and costs the UK well over £20billion each year. It directly affects all of our communities. The NCA's role is to lead the UK's fight against organised crime. But to do that we need to work closely with our law enforcement partners like Greater Manchester Police, as we have done in supporting this operation. Together we will use every technique available to relentlessly and continuously disrupt serious organised criminals and make their lives as difficult as possible."
Jim Battle, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "These so-called 'Mr Bigs' think they can control our communities with a grip of fear. But the action taken by police, local councils and other agencies this week sends a clear message to these abhorrent individuals that there is no place for you in our communities - you will be hunted down and you will be brought to justice.
"The fight is ongoing and we can only keep up the pressure on these criminal gangs with the support of our communities across Greater Manchester. I thank the decent, law-abiding people for their continued help and urge you all to stand with us so together we can bring down these criminals and build safer communities."
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.