Hand Yourself In For Christmas, Say Police

Police in Greater Manchester have launched an appeal for wanted offenders to come forward for Christmas. The campaign is an attempt to bring offenders to justice ahead of the seasonal period as pictures of 32 men and women wanted by police in connection with a number of offences are being publicised on three advertising vans across Manchester and Salford. The initiative follows on from the success of a similar operation in March, which led to more than 80 arrests. Chief Inspector Dave Gilbride for Greater Manchester Police said: “Christmas is our busiest time of the year and our aim is to get our wanted offenders locked up before the start of the festive period. Ahead of Christmas we are relaunching this campaign and we hope it will encourage members of the public to provide information, and offenders to come forward and have the criminal matter dealt with. Our message to our wanted offenders is simple, hand yourself in, before it’s too late. Cief Inspecto Gilbride added that he also wanted to appeal to the community to work with he police and help bring suspected criminals out of hiding to make the streets safer. "Anyone found to be to be helping those who are wanted could also find themselves in trouble.” People can contact the police on our new non-emergency number 101 or call charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Convicted Drug Dealers Forced To Sell Homes

Convicted drug dealers could be forced to sell their homes following a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing. In July this year, four drug dealers were jailed after an operation by Greater Manchester Police's Drug Unit and police in Bury where up to a quarter-of-a-million pounds worth of cocaine was seized, and paraphernalia used to prepare and distribute drugs in large quantities were also recovered. Michael Christopher Abbott, 30, of Carmona Drive, Prestwich, Paul Waren Bot, 39, of Merton Road, Prestwich, Ryan Dunn, 30, of Gerald Road, Charlestown, Salford and Adam Hewlett, 26, of Barmouth Walk, Oldham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Abbot was jailed for eight years and eight months, Bott to seven years and four months, Dunn to six years and three months and Hewlett to four years. However, after a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Bolton Crown Court, the quartet were found to have benefited to the sum of £203,316. They were ordered to repay a total of £42,005 after financial investigators identified that Abbott has £15,000 equity in his house and Bott £24,000 equity in his house. Both will have to sell their homes to realise their equity. Hewlett was ordered to repay £3,000 based on the equity in his home and cash seized on his arrest, and Dunn £5 as he had no assets. Failure to pay will result in a further custodial sentence, police said.

Examiner Suspended Over 'Easy' Course Comments

A third examiner has been suspended over allegations she suggested a course was easy. The chief examiner, from Edexcel exam board, was recorded by the Daily Telegraph saying the course content was so small she did not know how it had been passed by the regulator. Edexcel says the examiner regrets making the comments.

(DW)