Here at Confidential we get a constant stream of reports, releases and updates from Greater Manchester Police. This is a small selection of the reports received so far this week, not all of them.
Some do make for depressing reading but it's worth remembering that Greater Manchester has a population of 2.6m and that recent figures show crime rates have fallen across both the region and the country.
Friday 6 June: Drug dealer made to pay back £22.5k
Keith Boardman, 45, of Leigh Road, Hindley Green, who previously pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and amphetamine with the intent to supply (he was sentenced on 27 September 2013 to 30 months imprisonment), has been ordered to hand back more than £22,500 within six months under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The total value of drugs seized was £18,362.47 but the court found he had benefited to the tune of £157,992.95 and he had assets totalling £22,580.03.
If he fails to pay then he will be ordered to serve a further 12 months in prison.
Thursday 5 June: Fallowfield student house party collapses
Emergency services were called to a house on Amherst Road, Fallowfield, in the early hours of Thursday 5 June after the floor collapsed at a house party containing up to a hundred revellers.
Luckily, only two people were treated for injuries.
It is reported that the ground floor of the house collapsed into the basement of the building, which was luckily only a few feet deep.
Wednesday 4 June: Gorton man found guilty of murdering 'westernised' wife
Ahmed Al-Khatib, 35, of Gorton, has been found guilty of the murder of his wife and mother to three children, Rania Alayed, 25, after she went missing in June 2013.
Al-Khatib told the court that he had killed his wife, after she was lured to a flat in Salford, in self-defence after an evil spirit had entered her.
However, the court established that Al-Khatib had killed Rania on June 7 after she became increasingly 'westernised', enrolling on an Openshaw College course and wearing less traditional clothing.
Al-Khatib's brother, Muhaned Al-Khatib, 38, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice by helping to transport and conceal the body of Rania.
Muhaned told police Rania had been buried by a laybay on the A19 in North Yorkshire. Despite numerous attempts to locate Rania’s body, it has yet to be found and given a proper burial.
A third brother, Hussain Al-Khatib, 34, was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Reade, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said:
“Rania was a young mother-of-three with everything to live for. She was beginning to put an abusive and violent relationship behind her and had genuine cause to be optimistic for the future.
“But at the point when she thought she might be able to create a better life for her and her children – free of the domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of Al-Khatib – her husband snatched it all away in the cruellest and most despicable way possible.
“We continue to employ the most high-tech methods to search for her and we will not stop until we find her and she can be given the dignified burial she deserves.”
Rania search
Tuesday 3 June: Five arrested following pub shooting in Salford
Five people have now been arrested following the shooting of a man at the Ashley Brook pub in Salford on Monday 26 May 2014 around 11.30pm.
It is believed that the 49-year-old 'pub regular' was shot up to seven times. He remains in a serious but stable condition.
Following the arrest of a 22-year-old man and 17-year-old girl on Thursday 29 May 2014, two women, aged 47 and 23 and a 16-year-old boy have also been arrested.
All five have been bailed pending further enquiries.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Ashley Brook pub
Monday 2 June: Piccadilly Gardens mass brawl may have been racially motivated
Police are looking into the possibility that a mass brawl around the bus station in Piccadilly Gardens at 3pm on Saturday 31 May, involving two groups and up to fifteen people, may have been racially motivated.
Chief Inspector Faz Zaman, based on North Manchester Division, said: "This was a serious disturbance that took place in front of shoppers and families.
"It is completely unacceptable that anyone believes they can behave in this way in the middle of a busy city centre and I want to reassure everyone that we will be taking action.
"There is no evidence that this was a pre-planned fight. However suggestions that this incident was racially motivated in some way are being investigated.
"I have now put together a team of detectives to go through all available evidence, including CCTV footage, and to follow-up on inquiries and I will happily update people when we have a significant development."
Anyone who witnessed the disturbance or has any information, is asked to call police on 0161 856 3221 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
