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.
Saturday 1 March: Mother and son escape arson attack
A mother, 52, and her teenage son, 17, had to flee their home on Blantyre Street in Winton in the early hours of Saturday 1 March following an arson attack.
It is believed that wheelie bins were set on fire and pushed to the back of the house, causing significant damage to their home and threatening the lives of the mother and son.
Police are now appealing to anyone with information to come forward and have launched a joint investigation with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
Detective Sergeant Joe Clarke from Salford division, said: "Luckily this woman and her son were able to escape before the fire took hold and managed to call emergency services.
“If they had not been disturbed this fire could have had fatal consequences, we have seen in the past the tragedy caused by wheelie bin fires - people have lost their lives and families devastated - so it is absolutely vital we find the offenders.
"We do not know why this home was targeted but clearly we need to find the person or persons responsible so we can help the victims make sense of what has happened.
"I would appeal to anyone who has information about what happened to come forward."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5097 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Police are hunting the arsonists
Friday 28 February: Two jailed following Gorton murder
Sean Collier, 21, of Hyde Road, Gorton has been sentenced to 23 years in prison at Manchester Crown Court. He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the murder of 44-year-old Christopher Dawson on Saturday 13 April 2013.
Sean CollierAnother man, John Ashton, was sentenced to four years for conspiracy to commit assault.
Police were told that on Friday evening 12 April 2013 a number of people including Collier had been drinking in the communal kitchen where Mr Dawson lived. Mr Dawson spoke to the people then went upstairs to his flat.
When Ashton checked on Dawson the next day, he found him lying on the floor at the side of his bed, badly beaten and with blood on his face.
For reasons unknown, Collier had sustained Mr Dawson to a sustained and horrific physical attack, then gone home and kicked in the door to his own house a few doors down the road.
John AshtonDuncan Thorpe from GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “Mr Dawson had suffered multiple injuries including bruising to his neck and larynx, fractured ribs and injuries to his head and face. He had clearly suffered a very violent and sustained attack.
“It is still not clear what the motive for the attack was. Ashton has always denied his involvement and asking Collier to assault Dawson to teach him a lesson.
“Only Collier knows the real reason why he subjected Mr Dawson to such a horrific assault that day and he will spend the rest of his life living with the consequences of his actions.
“Both men are now deservedly serving considerable sentences in custody.”
Thursday 27 February: Motorbike bandits terrorize women
Two thieves on a motorbike have commited a spate of robberies around Manchester and Salford. Five women were targeted in only three hours on Wednesday 26 February by these motorbike bandits.
The men have targeted the women in cars, smashing windows and grabbing bags, as well as in the street. One woman was punched in the face and knocked to the ground.
At 6.10pm a woman was targeted in a car park in Pollard Street. At 8.15pm a woman was targeted in her car on Bury New Road, Broughton Park. At 8.30pm a woman was robbed in a car park off Stock Street East, Cheetham Hill. At a similar time the robbers stole the phone of a woman on Clibran Street. Finally, at 9.10am a woman was targeted in her car at the junction of Cheetham Hill Road and Middleton Road.
Detective Inspector Andy Naismith, said: “Over a period of about three hours, two men have terrorised five women in separate yet deliberate and targeted robberies.
“Some have been in their cars, others walking on the street, and all have been left understandably shaken by what has occurred.
“I think there will be members of the criminal fraternity who will be as appalled as I am by the persistent targeting of lone women. The actions of these two men are nothing short of cowardly.
“I would urge anyone with information about any of the incidents or about who the offenders might be to contact us.
“I would also like to urge women to be mindful of these incidents and if they are out driving alone not to leave possessions on show in their car - such as on the front passenger seat - and if they are out walking to have any items such as mobiles secured in zip pockets.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 3892, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Police are hunting the motorbike robbers
Wednesday 26 February: Appalling CCTV shows drunk man kick wounded cat to death
Anthony Delaney, 30, has been given an eighteen week jail term after a court in Tameside saw CCTV of him twice kicking a cat to death as it lay wounded having been hit by a car.
Ex-soldier Delaney had reportedly drank ten pints on a night out with pals in Ashton-under-Lyne before the incident took place in the early hours of Sunday 22 September last year.
Delaney's defence claimed that he was trying to put the cat out of its misery. But the court heard that Delaney and pals had told a woman, who had stopped her car to guard the animal until the RSPCA arrived that she 'better drive away now', before kicking the dying animal twice.
The cat sadly died just after officers arrived.
At an earlier hearing Delaney pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary cruelty to an animal.
WARNING: This CCTV contains disturbing scenes Tuesday 25 February: Man critical after Oxford Road horror crash
At around 10.30am on Tuesday 25 February a red Lexus and silver Toyota Avensis were involved in a horrific collision that has left the 24-year-old driver of the Lexus in a serious condition in Manchester Royal Infirmary.
The 48-year-old driver of the Toyota suffered fractured ribs and remains in hospital.
Oxford Road has now been reopened between Brunswick Street and Booth Street East following a lengthy closure for most of the day.
Police Constable Pete Cunningham from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “We are investigating the circumstances leading up to this collision and are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to call us as soon as possible.”
Anyone who has any information about the collision is asked to call GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741.
The red Lexus following collision
Tuesday 25 February: Injuries to protester and officer at Barton Moss fracking site:
A protestor that tried to climb a lorry entering the Barton Moss fracking site has been taken to hospital claiming to have suffered spinal injuries after police pulled him away.
Why the unnamed protestor, who is reported to be in his 50s and using crutches to get around, is attempting to jump on a moving lorry has left many mystified.
In a separate incident that took place just before 8am on Tuesday 25 February, a police officer was wounded whilst attempting to free two protestors - a man and a woman - who had locked themselves on to a metal 'booby trap' drum filled with concrete, barbed wire and glass.
The pair remain in police custody.
Odd day down at the iGas Barton Moss fracking site.
Two protestors attached themselves to a drum filled with concrete, glass and barbed wire
Monday 24 February: Gang refused entry to bar in Fallowfield attack innocent bystanders
At around 3am on Saturday 22 February, four men were refused entry to Baa Bar on the junction of Wilmslow Road and Wilbraham Road. One of the group then picked up a metal post and smashed a window.
It is then believed that the same group entered the taxi of another group of innocent bystanders, containing three women and two men, demanding to use their taxi to travel somewhere.
When the group refused to give up the taxi the gang began attacking them. One of the offenders knocked one of the women unconscious.
Three women and two men were attacked by the gang, one woman suffered a broken jaw, another woman suffered a broken nose and the other woman suffered a suspected broken jaw. Two men suffered cuts and bruising.
Following the attack the men left down Wilbraham Road.
The offenders are described as two white men aged in their early to mid 20s and two black men aged in their mid to late 20s.
Detective Sergeant Gareth Davies said: “Most probably spurred on by drink and not being allowed entry to Baa Bar the offenders have indiscriminately assaulted five innocent people.
“Three women have suffered particularly nasty injuries.
“Grown men attacking women with such violence and in such an unprovoked manner is particularly unpalatable and a completely cowardly act and we are working hard to identify the men responsible.
“I want to reassure the public that we are following a number of lines of enquiry but if anyone has any information that can help our investigation we would be keen to hear from you.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 4423, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Baa Bar on Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield
Monday 24 February: Police seek Good Samaritan in Salford
Police are attempting to trace a Good Samaritan who thwarted the robbery of a teenage girl in Salford.
Around 7.15pm on Saturday 22 February a 19-year-old girl was walking across a bridge over the River Irwell between St boniface Road and Gerald Road when an attacker grabbed her from behind and demanded her phone.
The attacker punched the girl in the face and threw her to the floor.
Hearing her cry for help a passerby, described an a man in his 30s or 40s, came to her aid and chased the offender off along Gerald Road towards Cromwell Road.
The offender is described as black, between sixteen and eighteen years old and between 5ft 10in and 6ft tall. He was of skinny build and is described as having a 'baby face' and short afro hair. He was wearing a dark coloured hooded top and tracksuit bottoms.
Detective Constable Paul Reynolds, said: “The offender has made a serious and violent attempt to take the victim’s phone but due to her tenacity and the intervention of the Good Samaritan has fled empty handed.
“The man who came to the woman’s aid had left the area prior to police attendance and he is clearly a key witness and we need to speak to him.
“If you are this person or know who he is, please get in touch."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5351, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
