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 8 August: Gang of youths go on a crime spree in Ancoats
Between 12.00am and 1am on Friday 8th August 2014, a group of up to 10 young men committed a string of offences between Oldham Road and Pollard Street in the Ancoats area of the city centre.
They struck first on Redhill Street at midnight, smashing the window of a parked BMW before abusing and threatening the local residents who looked out of their windows.
They continued to walk around the area causing a disturbance, then smashed the windows of a narrow boat tied up on Ashton Canal near to Old Mill Street.
They then assaulted and robbed a man and a woman walking along Lampwick Lane at around 12.15am, punching the man and taking their mobile phones.
On Pollard Street at 12.20am the youths then pointed what was thought to be a firearm at the driver of a passing van.
Finally, two of the group robbed a security guard at gunpoint on Fairclough Street.
The pair approached the man, who was sitting in a parked car at the side of the road, and tapped a gun on the driver’s window.
They told the victim to get out the car, with one holding the man at gunpoint while the other searched the vehicle.
They stole a Sony tablet and the man’s keys.
The first offender is described as a white man, standing at 5ft10in tall and aged around 15-16 years old. He was wearing a grey hooded top, a draw-string bag and grey tracksuit bottoms.
The second offender was a white man, who was wearing a dark hooded top and dark tracksuit bottoms.
Detective Constable David Berry said: “This group of young men terrorised an area of Ancoats for more than an hour yesterday.
“We want to assure the public that we will be sending out extra patrols in the area over the weekend and using every available resource to track them down and bring them to justice.
“Due to the size of the group, they will have been noticeable and any information you might have about one or all of the youths seen in the area at the time could help us paint a clearer picture of who was involved in this campaign of terror.
“We are actually also trying to track down two of the victims, the man and woman who’s phones were stolen on Lampwick Lane, and I would urge them to get in touch.
“If you believe you witnessed any of the above incidents, or have any information please call 0161 856 4288 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111 555.”
Thursday 7 August: 108 Fugitives Nabbed By Police
More than 100 fugitives have been arrested this week as part of a crackdown on the number of outstanding offenders in Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester Police has launched Operation Dawn Thunder to target those in hiding and on the run from police and reduce the number of criminals in Manchester currently circulated as wanted.
In a series of co-ordinated strikes over the past two days (August 6 and 7), every division in Greater Manchester Police has carried out raids at the hideouts of known fugitives.
As a result, 108 outstanding offenders have been arrested and either returned to prison or remain in police custody.
Gold Commander for the operation, Chief Superintendent John O'Hare, said: "Over the past two days, we have carried out more than 100 warrants across Greater Manchester to target those fugitives who are on the run and have shown no remorse for their crimes by surrendering to police.
"These people pose a significant risk to our communities. Not only are they wanted for their original crimes, but when they are on the run and in hiding they often have to resort to further criminality such as theft and burglary just to get their hands on cash. That leads to more innocent people being caught up in this web of criminality.
"That is why we have launched Dawn Thunder and as a result 108 fugitives have been rounded up.
"But this is not the end, only the beginning. Our officers are working every day to develop the intelligence about the whereabouts of outstanding offenders and as the past two days have shown, if you don't hand yourself in we will be knocking down your front door.
"I also want a send a strong message to those who offer these people refuge and a place to hide. If you are caught harbouring an offender, you risk going to prison yourself so ask yourself: is it worth going to jail for someone else?
"I would ask communities across Greater Manchester to work with us and help us bring suspected criminals out of hiding and make our streets safer places to live. These people may be hiding on your street so if you do know of someone who is on the run then do the right thing and call. Any information you can provide to us, and you don't have to give you name, could be the missing link to finding wanted criminals."
Anyone with information should call police on 101, call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or provide information through www.gmp.police.uk/wanted.
Police have arrested over 100 fugitives
Wednesday 6 August: Heaton Park rape following Holi Colour festival
Police are appealing for witnesses after a report of rape which occurred in Heaton Park.
The 29-year-old victim had been at the Holi One Colour Festival on Saturday 2nd August 2014, when she became detached from the group of friends she had travelled to the festival with.
The victim is described as white, 29-years-old, around 5ft2in tall with a slim build and shoulder length dark brown hair. When she arrived at the festival she was wearing blue denim shorts, a black boob tube under a white vest, a grey and black leopard print scarf and leopard print wellington boots.
After the incident she was wearing only her underwear, socks and a white jumper.
The victim then walked to a pub on Middleton Road around 10.15pm before getting a taxi home a short time later before reporting the incident to Police the following day.
Detective Sergeant Claire Phythian said: “We are very keen to ascertain the exact circumstances as to how this young woman ended up being assaulted.
“We know that she last saw her friends at about 8pm, and that they did not see her again until the following day.
“We are appealing for witnesses & if you believe you recognise the description of the woman and have information about her whereabouts between 8pm and 10pm, please contact the Serious Sexual Offences Unit on 0161 856 1911."
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Holi Colour Festival
Tuesday 5 August: Bomb hoax made on Manchester-bound flight
A QATAR AIRWAYS flight (QR023) from Doha to Manchester has been escorted by a Royal Air Force Typhoon jet in to land at Manchester Airport after 'threats of a possible device' were made to crew on Tuesday 5 August.
The man was arrested and taken away by armed police. He was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
