Friday 11 September: Man assaulted for not buying drugs
A man has been jailed for ten years and nine months after attacking another man with a bottle when the victim refused to buy drugs from him.
Noel Austin, 36, of Lagos Close, Hulme, admitted to causing grievous bodily harm.
On Sunday 12 May 2013 at around 4am, the 27-year-old victim was on King Street West with a group of friends having just left a nightclub when Austin approached them and tried to sell them drugs.
They declined a number of times before Auston walked off.
Austin then returned and attacked the victim with a bottle and severed a vein in the victim's neck causing heavy blood loss.
A taxi driver pursued Austin but he eventually got away. Luckily, a week later the taxi driver spotted Austin on Wilmslow Road and identified him to officers who made the arrest.
Thursday 10 September: Edgeley cannabis farm uncovered
Police have uncovered a substantial cannabis farm in Edgeley, Stockport.
Cannabis plantsOn the morning of Wednesday 9 October, officers raided a semi-detached property on Avondale Road.
Around 200 cannabis plants were found throughout the house, estimated to be worth around £150,000 at street value.
No arrests have yet been made and enquiries are ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Stockport police on 0161 856 9612, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Wednesday 9 September: Huge drop in GM firearms offences
GMP have issued statistics to display how they have dramatically reduced gang related violence and tackled gun crime in the area.
Gang-related shootings fell from 40 in 2004/05 to just one in 2011/12 and the region hasn't had a gang-related murder since May 2009.
Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “Greater Manchester is a safe place to live, but there is a small minority that believes communities can be ruled by fear. The success of Xcalibre in tackling gun and gang crime is proof that only by standing together can we defeat these individuals.
“It's about the police, probation, local councils, youth offending services, and most importantly, local people working together to get to the causes of crime and bringing real, long-term change. It's also about empowering young people who may be tempted to join a gang to choose a better way."
For non-emergency calls or to report a crime call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
GMP in action
Tuesday 8 September: Body pulled from water by Canal Street identified
UPDATE (Friday 11 October): Police have arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of murder
Police have now identified the body of a man pulled from the canal at the junction of Princess Street and Canal Street on Sunday 6 October.
Sean MarkeyThe man has been identified as Sean Michael Markey, 39, from Newton Heath.
A post mortem into the cause of death has been carried out but was inconclusive. Furthur tests shall be carried out.
Police say that Sean was last seen on Wednesday 2 October on Nicholas Street in Manchester city centre.
Detective Inspector Brian Morley said: “It is not yet clear how or when Sean died so we are urging anyone who may have seen or spoken to him since he was last seen in the early hours on Wednesday, to get in touch with police and help us piece together his final movements.”
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 3221 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Monday 7 September: Women attacked and sexually assaulted in NQ bar
In the early hours of Saturday 29 September a group of women were attacked and one was sexually assaulted at Lammars on Hilton Street.
CCTV imageThe group of friends were approached by a group of eight men, who had entered the bar at around 1am and had become increasingly rowdy.
At around 2am one of the men sexually assaulted the victim, who then threw her drink at the offender, described as white, between 5ft 6in and 5ft 10in tall, in his mid 20s, with short brown hair and wearing a black short sleeved top.
The victim was then thrown to the floor and repeatedly kicked by the offender and his friends.
Two of the woman's friends, aged 52 and 19, were also attacked by the group.
Detective Constable Adam Cronshaw said: "This was a deplorable incident whereby a large group of men - some of whom were extremely well built - have assaulted, indiscriminately, a number of women.
"One of these women was sexually assaulted, one has suffered a fractured jaw and another woman unconnected to the group has also been spat at.
"We believe that there are a father and son within the group and are appealing for witnesses and the public to help us identify all involved.
"If you can recognise anyone in the CCTV images or have any information please get in touch."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Lammars, Hilton Street
Sunday 6 September: Police find floating body near Canal Street
Police were called to the Gay Village at around 3,40pm on Sunday 6 October after a body was reported to be floating in the water around Canal Street.
Officers and an underwater search team attended and pulled a body of a man from the water. Some reports suggest that the body had been wrapped in a black bag.
It is too early for police to state whether the death is to be considered as suspicious and the investigation continues.
A post-mortem began on the morning of Monday 7 October to determine the cause of death.
Updates will follow.
Canal Street
Saturday 5 September: More drug problems for the Warehouse Project
UPDATE: The woman is making a good recovery
A 32-year-old woman was induced into a coma by doctors after consuming a small quantity of drugs at the troubled Trafford venue on the night of Friday 4 October.
The woman's condition was described as 'critical'.
It is believed that the woman approached the on-site doctor and was immediately admitted to hospital for treatment.
The events follow the tragic events of last weekend when a 30-year-old man died and numerous others were taken ill at the Warehouse Project.
A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of and supplying drugs.
Police warn of dangersChief Superintendent Mark Roberts said: “It was due to swift intervention from medical staff at the venue that last night, a woman who was feeling unwell after taking only a small amount of drugs, was able to quickly receive urgent medical treatment at hospital.
“This once again highlights just what a lottery it is for your health if you choose to do drugs – you cannot know how your body will react to the chemicals you are ingesting, and more importantly, you simply do not know what chemicals are actually in the drugs you are taking.
“These unscrupulous dealers that sell drugs have no regard for people’s health and we need to work together to tackle this issue.
“Anyone found to be dealing drugs at The Warehouse Project, or any other venues across Manchester, can expect to be arrested and will feel the full weight of the law upon them – we simply will not tolerate it.”
