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.
Wednesday 29 January: Rock concert taxi driver charged for illegal pick-ups
Khalid Mahmood, 37, from Cranbrook Street in Oldham, was fined £400 with £600 costs and a £40 victims of crime surcharge after pleading guilty to illegally plying for hire outside a Muse concert at the Etihad in June 2013.
Private hire drivers can only pick up passengers who have pre-booked jobs through the operator, and it is illegal for them to pick up passengers from the street as these journeys would not be insured
The officers, who were working outside the concert as part of an operation cracking down on illegal taxi drivers and street traders, were told it would cost £35 to take them to Rochdale.
When the officers investigated further, they found that his last booked job was nearly six miles from the Etihad in Oldham.
Etihad Stadium
Tuesday 28 January: Tram delays as police investigate blood at Metrolink station
UPDATE (29/01/14 10.40): The man has been found. He suffered a burst blood vessel on his leg.
At around 8.30pm on Tuesday 28 January police were called to Princess Parkway Metrolink station after blood was found in a lift and around the tram station.
A man was seen on CCTV carrying bags with blood dripping from them. Police are now trying to confirm whether the blood is that of an animal or a human.
Trams travelling out of the city will not be stopping at the station whilst police carry out their investigation.
Anyone with information should phone police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Trams will not stop at Princess Parkway
Monday 27 January: TV Weatherman Fred Talbot charged with indecent assault and buggery
TV Weatherman Fred Talbot, 64, has been charged with nine counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery following historic sexual abuse investigation.
He is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 11 February 2014.
The charges relate to the sexual abuse of five victims, three of whom were under 16 at the time.
Six counts of indecent assault relate to incidents involving one victim who attended a school in Newcastle at the time. The other offences relate to three victims who attended Altrincham Grammar School for Boys at the time and the buggery charge relates to an offence against a former pupil of Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.
Fred Talbot
Sunday 26 January: Arrest after another city centre stabbing
A 29-year-old man has been arrested after a 25-year-old man was stabbed by the Corn Exchange at around 12.40am on Sunday 26 January.
The man remains in a serious but stable condition.
Detective Inspector Andy Naismith said: “We are currently studying CCTV to establish what happened in the early hours of this morning and how many offenders were involved but believe this has been the result of some sort of earlier altercation.
“Obviously people will be concerned about this, especially 24 hours after another man was stabbed in the city centre, but I can reassure them that these two incidents are not linked.
“I would ask anyone who may have been in or around the area at the time of the incident to call police, even if you feel the information you have is insignificant to our investigation.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 3221 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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Saturday 25 January: Man stabbed and other injured on Cambridge Street
A 24-year-old man has been arrested after a man was stabbed in the back and another injured during an attack in the early hours of Saturday 25 January.
Police found that a 38-year-old man had received a stab wound to the back and another 40-year-old man had received a broken assault during the incident.
Both men are being treated in hospital.
A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault and possession of a Class A drug and remains in police custody for questioning.
Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 3221 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
