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 12 April: Stockport vicar arrested for rape
Simon Marsh, 54, vicar at St Michael and All Angels Church in Bramhall, Stockport, has been arrested on suspicion of raping a victim numerous times between 2011 and 2013 when the girl was aged 16 to 19.
He has been suspended from duty and released on bail pending furthur inquiries.
Thursday 10 April: Armed robbery in Chorlton
Robbers threatened staff at the Co-op on Barlow Moor Road with a handgun and hammer as they stole cash from the supermarket.
The incident took place around 2pm on Wednesday 9 April when the two offenders wearing dark clothes and motorbike helmets entered the store and threatened security staff who were making a cash delivery to an ATM inside.
Detective Constable Mark Evans from South Manchester division, said: “Did you witness the robbery or see the offenders fleeing on a motorbike? Do you know who is responsible or have heard anyone bragging about the incident? If so please call us."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 6094, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Wednesday 9 April: Boy shot in the head with BB gun in phone robbery
A boy, 14, has received surgery to remove a ball bearing from his head after a man trying to steal his phone shot him iwith a BB gun.
EvofitThe victim was walking through a cutting between Moston Lane and Belthorne Avenue in north Manchester at around 4.15pm when two men approached and asked for the boy's phones.
When they refused the boy was shot, his friend also received a cut to the face.
The man with the gun is described as about 20 years-old with short ginger hair and a light ginger beard. He was about 5ft 11in tall with a tall, stocky build and wearing dark blue jeans and a light grey hoodie. His accomplice was of a similar age with dark hair, about 6ft tall and had a full black beard.
Detective Constable Mike Keogh, based at North Manchester Divisional HQ, said: “To fire a BB gun at someone’s head from point-blank range is an horrific thing to do, even by the standards of armed robbery.
“Had the pellet hit the face or an eye then this could easily have been a murder investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0800 555 111.
Tuesday 8 April: Men arrested after spree of paintball attacks
Police have arrested three men, two aged 20 and one aged 22, after a spree of eight paintball attacks across Manchester over the weekend - one in which the victim nearly 'lost an eye'.
At first, a group of men were seen firing paintballs at a house from a dark Vauxhall on Powell Street, Bury, at around 6.30pm on Saturday 5 April.
Later on, the first of the attacks on a person took place on Bury New Road in Prestwich between 11.15pm and 11.45pm. The victim was walking with friends when the Vauxhall and a silver Range Rover drove past and opened fire.
There were then two further attacks, one on Bury New Road and another in Whitefield.
The offenders then moved to Fallowfield around 12.20am on Sunday 6 April. One victim was shot four times on Wilbraham Road, the next attack took place around 1.45am on Mosley Road. the victim here was shot and called a 'slag' by the attackers.
The seventh victim nearly lost an eye as the attackers pulled up and shot the victim in the face on Kingsway at the junction with Green End at 2am. This victim was taken to hospital.
Just before 3am in Heaton Moor, Stockport, the final shooting took place where a man was shot several times by the Vauxhall and Range Rover gangs.
Paintball gun
Detective Sergeant Iqbal Ahmed said: "This may have been treated like a bit of fun for the men who perpetrated this string of attacks, but we are treating these incidents extremely seriously.
"This was a high powered weapon used by the men to inflict pain on innocent passers-by and one of the victims was frankly very lucky not to lose an eye after being shot in the face."
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8292 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Monday 7 April: Man charged after the death of a baby in Wigan
Martin Thomas, 30, of Beech Hill Avenue, Wigan, has been charged with six counts of section 18 assault after the death of a four-month-old girl.
On 21 February 2013, police were called to the address on Beech Hill Avenue where they found a four-month-old girl unconscious and not breathing. Tragically, the baby girl died a short time later in hospital.
Following a Home Office post-mortem examination on 27 February 2013, a number of fractures were discovered to the baby's head and body.
He is due before Wigan magistrates’ court on Friday 11 April 2014.
A woman, 24, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and child neglect has been released without charge.
Monday 7 April: Woman suffers fractured skull and jaw during racist attack at Chorlton massage parlour
At around 1.15am on Thursday 6 February a man walked into Bon Bons massage parlour on Barlow Morr Road, Chorlton, and started being abusive.
OffenderWhen escorted to the front door by the victim, 38, he began racially abusing her and a scuffle broke out, the woman was then hit in the face with a glass bottle and kicked as she fell to the floor. The offender then left.
He is described as being white, in his 20s, 6ft tall, had dark hair, blue eyes and spoke with a local accent. He wore a blue hooded top, jeans and trainers.
Detective Constable Paul Jackson based at West Didsbury Police Station said: “This was a vicious and violent attack that has left a woman with a fractured skull and two fractures to her jaw. She is still receiving treatment for her injuries to this day.
“Not only was she assaulted but she was racially abused without provocation. I would ask anyone who may recognise the man in the picture to call us as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
