Latest news with #OCGs
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
We live on Angela Rayner's old estate & we're desperate to move… druggies deal on my doorstep & teen girls are tooled up
WITNESSING another drug deal brazenly take place in spitting distance of her doorstep, a nervous mum hurriedly shuts her curtains. Terrified of 'reprisals' if she were to speak out, she and many other residents on the estate in the Advertisement 14 The Sun witnessed police arresting a teen suspected of carrying a knife Credit: STEVE ALLEN 14 Keiran Morgan and Zaki Shazad were jailed for a total of 34 years for a gangland shooting 14 Crime scene investigators analysing the scene at shop where a gang-related shooting took place in 2021 Credit: Adam Vaughan/MEN 14 Deputy PM Angela Rayner grew up in the area Credit: Jack Hill/The Times Meanwhile locals in neighbouring communities admit they fear walking the streets at night and complain of intimidating gangs of youths, drug-dealing, anti-social behaviour, stabbings, shootings and the menace of organised crime groups - known as OCGs. Stockport has traditionally seen much lower levels of gang activity than Manchester, and figures show it has the second lowest crime rate in Greater Manchester as a whole. When comparing crime rates across England and Wales, it is ranked 130th out of 313 areas for the 'most dangerous' place to live, with a rate of 80.7 crimes per 1,000 people. But the stats don't tell the full story, for while some of its affluent areas do indeed have low levels, it's more deprived districts are now crime hotspots – with a 2024 council report revealing it to be the eighth most polarised borough in England. Advertisement READ MORE FEATURES Two years ago there were a series of gangland hits which a judge said had 'all the hallmarks' of a dispute between serious organised criminals. Gunman Kieran Morgan, 30, used a sawn-off double shotgun to target two homes and a takeaway, where customers and staff were present. Morgan had acted on the orders of Zaki Shazad, 22, who, in turn, was said to be operating on behalf of an unidentified more senior criminal. Judge Jonathan Seely, at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, described the shootings as an 'increasingly terrifying phenomenon for the citizens of our country' when he jailed Morgan for 18 years and Shazad for 16 years in June. Advertisement Most read in The Sun 'Bad families on every street' One of Stockport's so-called crime hotspots is the 'Brinny' estate in Brinnington, which has become notorious for its gangs of youths causing mayhem on e-bikes and scooters, while drugs and anti-social behaviour are everyday concerns. Some residents are too terrified to leave their homes at night and won't contact police due to fears they'll be labelled a 'grass'. Chilling moment schoolboy, 12, stalks playground brandishing HUGE knife in front of pupils shouting 'what ARE you doing' 14 Shuttered down shops near a 24-hour off licence, which causes locals extra concern Credit: STEVE ALLEN 14 The estate is famous for being where Angela Rayner and Phil Foden grew up Credit: STEVE ALLEN Advertisement 14 Kieran Morgan used a sawn off shotgun to fire into the burger bar where diners were eating Credit: STEVE ALLEN 14 CCTV footage caught Morgan on camera firing at a house Credit: GMP One woman, who didn't wish to be named, told The Sun 'there are bad families on every street', but the threat of 'reprisals' meant a lot of crimes go unreported. A mother collecting her child from a nearby school added: 'You see people who are on drugs or who've been drinking. Advertisement 'I certainly wouldn't walk around here at night. There are lots of kids on e-bikes and scooters and they're really dangerous because you can't hear them coming. 'There's also anti-social behaviour with kids hanging around, although it's not quite as bad as it used to be. 'I do think a bigger police presence would be a good thing.' 'Police here every day' Meanwhile residents in Shaw Heath, as well as those on the neighbouring Bridgehall estate, where Advertisement On the day The Sun visited Bridgehall, police were seen detaining a teenage girl who was suspected of carrying a knife. There's a lot of people around here on drink and drugs and they swear and say to you, 'What you looking at?' Sometimes I'm scared to look at people because of how they react Karen Robinson A mother-of-three, who didn't wish to be named, said she often witnessed drug deals taking place outside her house. 'Cars will pull up and people will get in so they can pretend to be friends,' she said. 'But it's obvious what's going on. I want to move because it's so bad. But it's hard to find a bigger home.' Advertisement She added that police are 'here every day' due to persistent anti-social behaviour but 'never do anything'. Her neighbour Steven Wood, 39, said he 'worries' about the older members of his family because of 'intimidating' gangs of drug-taking youths hanging around on the streets or in alleyways. 'It used to be lovely round here but it's not now,' he told The Sun. 'You're constantly on edge waiting for something to happen.' He added that his aunty had made a 'long list' of reports to police but 'nothing seems to get done'. Advertisement Bridgehall resident Karen Robinson, 48, whose daughter was in the same school class as Foden, said it can be 'uncomfortable' living on the estate. 'You look at people the wrong way and they can be a bit funny, a bit nasty,' she said. 'There's a lot of people around here on drink and drugs and they swear and say to you, 'What you looking at?' 'Sometimes I'm scared to look at people because of how they react. Advertisement 14 Karen Robinson, 48, says kids swear at her regularly Credit: STEVE ALLEN 14 Takeaway owner Mohammed Islam was run over and killed in an attempted car-jacking Credit: MEN Media 14 Connor Read, 19, admitted conspiracy to steal in connection with the killing of a takeaway owner Mohammed Islam Credit: MEN 'I've been on my own for nine years after my daughter left home, and I feel it's a place where I go in, shut my door and keep myself to myself. Advertisement 'I only really talk to my neighbour and the kids are really cheeky and swear at you and call you names. 'There's no respect at all with the younger generation.' She said there had been a recent machete attack on the estate and other violent incidents, including a taxi driver being stabbed, and she wanted to 'get out'. 'Gangs & guns' Nurse Amy Fletcher, 28, said she knew 'dodgy' activities took place on the estate and police regularly carried out raids. Advertisement 'Probably the worst thing is people stealing,' she said. 'I saw some kids up on a roof the other day. 'And I thought to myself, 'Please get down from there, that's not sensible'.' And another Bridgehall resident, who only gave his name as David, said: 'There are loads of kids around here who cause trouble. 'We've had problems for years with the e-bikes, scooters and anti-social behaviour. Advertisement 'They just don't care and taunt the police when they come round.' In January 2021 a carjacking led to a restaurant owner and father-of-three being run over and killed. It used to be lovely round here but it's not now. You're constantly on edge waiting for something to happen Steven Wood He'd tried to cling on to the car before he was sent 'flying' to the ground, with the car then running over his head as the 14-year-old behind the wheel, from Brinnington, 'floored' it. Advertisement Five teenagers - including Connor Read, 19 - were later sentenced for their role in the shocking crime. In June that year 'gang rivalry' spilled out into the streets of Cheadle Hulme when a 15-year-old gunman fired shots at a convenience store in broad daylight before pointing the gun at a delivery driver. Manchester Crown Court heard how Jacob Richards had become 'firmly entrenched in a culture of gangs and guns' and had 'bragged' about his crimes in raps. Richards also carried out a separate arson attack with fellow gunman Remico Embrack, 20, and was convicted for a catalogue of violent incidents in 2024. Advertisement County lines crackdown As far back as 2020, a Youth Violence Strategy report had warned of 'increasing levels of serious youth violence, criminal exploitation and working with children who identify themselves as having a gang affiliation'. Among its recommendations was early intervention and knife crime awareness sessions in schools, the identification of 'at risk' children and active policing in crime hot-spots. 14 A dilapidated and boarded-up home on Bridgehall Estate Credit: STEVE ALLEN 14 Amy Fletcher, 28, says there's a lot of 'dodgy' things going on in the area Credit: STEVE ALLEN Advertisement 14 The estate had been blighted by rising crime Credit: STEVE ALLEN Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and partners are supporting the Home Office's Safer Streets Summer Initiative, aimed at reducing crime across town centres and communities. The force has been involved in other initiatives and operations to tackle serious and organised crime. Programme Challenger sees them working with other agencies to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks, including drug lines, the buying and use of firearms and money laundering. Advertisement And Operation Venture, launched in 2023, sees officers working as part of a multi-agency team, which includes the Greater Manchester's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), and using a variety of tactics to tackle violence, particularly involving young people and knife crime. Last year it led to three men from Brinnington being charged as part of a crackdown on a county lines drug-dealing operation. Three separate incidents also led to five arrests and the recovery of a large amount of cash and drugs and the 'dismantling' of an OCG in the Shaw Heath area. On the one-year anniversary of Challenger, the force claimed to have made a 'sizeable impact' on reducing serious violence on the streets, with 452 arrests, 130 weapons recovered, and £250,0000 seized. Advertisement Superintendent David Henthorne, from Greater Manchester Police's Stockport district, said : 'Across Stockport on a daily basis, officers from a variety of teams undertake work to tackle criminality, lock-up those responsible, and help address the roots to these issues. I only really talk to my neighbour and the kids are really cheeky and swear at you and call you names Karen Robinson 'This includes our neighbourhood teams who immerse themselves in their communities, knowing who causes problems and when, and can appropriately patrol and monitor known hotspots to crack down on ASB, drug-dealing, and other offences causing misery in people's lives.' He wanted to encourage anyone in the community who was having issues to contact local officers or do so anonymously via Crimestoppers. A spokesperson for Stockport Council said: 'Stockport is a great place to live and work. We've been regularly recognised among the best places to live by national publications like the Sunday Times. Advertisement 'This data from 2017 doesn't reflect the Stockport of today: a borough being transformed through major investment and partnership working. 'We know feeling safe is fundamental to people's quality of life, which is why tackling crime and anti-social behaviour remains a priority for us and our partners. 'Through our One Stockport, One Future approach, working closely with partners and Greater Manchester Police, we're tackling the root causes of crime and inequality — building safer, stronger communities for everyone. We encourage all residents to report concerns and access support where needed.' A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) said: 'Greater Manchester has a strong record of working in partnership to tackle serious and organised crime across the city-region, exemplified through Programme Challenger. Advertisement "There is no evidence to suggest the threat of serious organised crime is getting worse in Stockport. 'Wherever any localised issues arise we work in partnership with GMP and others through Programme Challenger to tackle this with local community organisations. 'There is also exemplary safeguarding work taking place in the borough through the Aspire Complex Safeguarding Team to protect children and young people from harm.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
We live on Angela Raynor's old estate & we're desperate to move… druggies deal on my doorstep & teen girls are tooled up
One 'guns and gangs' obsessed youngster opened fire on a shop, held a delivery driver at gun point and committed arson - alongside a plethora of other violent attacks 'LIVING ON EDGE' We live on Angela Rayner's old estate & we're desperate to move… druggies deal on my doorstep & teen girls are tooled up Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITNESSING another drug deal brazenly take place in spitting distance of her doorstep, a nervous mum hurriedly shuts her curtains. Terrified of 'reprisals' if she were to speak out, she and many other residents on the estate in the north west town choose instead to turn a blind eye. 13 The Sun witnessed police arresting a teen suspected of carrying a knife Credit: STEVE ALLEN 13 Keiran Morgan and Zaki Shazad were jailed for a total of 34 years for a gangland shooting 13 Crime scene investigators analysing the scene at shop where a gang-related shooting took place in 2021 Credit: Adam Vaughan/MEN Meanwhile locals in neighbouring communities admit they fear walking the streets at night and complain of intimidating gangs of youths, drug-dealing, anti-social behaviour, stabbings, shootings and the menace of organised crime groups - known as OCGs. Stockport has traditionally seen much lower levels of gang activity than Manchester, and figures show it has the second lowest crime rate in Greater Manchester as a whole. When comparing crime rates across England and Wales, it is ranked 130th out of 313 areas for the 'most dangerous' place to live, with a rate of 80.7 crimes per 1,000 people. But the stats don't tell the full story, for while some of its affluent areas do indeed have low levels, it's more deprived districts are now crime hotspots – with a 2024 council report revealing it to be the eighth most polarised borough in England. Two years ago there were a series of gangland hits which a judge said had 'all the hallmarks' of a dispute between serious organised criminals. Gunman Kieran Morgan, 30, used a sawn-off double shotgun to target two homes and a takeaway, where customers and staff were present. Morgan had acted on the orders of Zaki Shazad, 22, who, in turn, was said to be operating on behalf of an unidentified more senior criminal. Judge Jonathan Seely, at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, described the shootings as an 'increasingly terrifying phenomenon for the citizens of our country' when he jailed Morgan for 18 years and Shazad for 16 years in June. 'Bad families on every street' One of Stockport's so-called crime hotspots is the 'Brinny' estate in Brinnington, which has become notorious for its gangs of youths causing mayhem on e-bikes and scooters, while drugs and anti-social behaviour are everyday concerns. Some residents are too terrified to leave their homes at night and won't contact police due to fears they'll be labelled a 'grass'. Chilling moment schoolboy, 12, stalks playground brandishing HUGE knife in front of pupils shouting 'what ARE you doing' 13 Shuttered down shops near a 24-hour off licence, which causes locals extra concern Credit: STEVE ALLEN 13 The estate is famous for being where Angela Rayner and Phil Foden grew up Credit: STEVE ALLEN 13 Kieran Morgan used a sawn off shotgun to fire into the burger bar where diners were eating Credit: STEVE ALLEN 13 CCTV footage caught Morgan on camera firing at a house Credit: GMP One woman, who didn't wish to be named, told The Sun 'there are bad families on every street', but the threat of 'reprisals' meant a lot of crimes go unreported. A mother collecting her child from a nearby school added: 'You see people who are on drugs or who've been drinking. 'I certainly wouldn't walk around here at night. There are lots of kids on e-bikes and scooters and they're really dangerous because you can't hear them coming. 'There's also anti-social behaviour with kids hanging around, although it's not quite as bad as it used to be. 'I do think a bigger police presence would be a good thing.' 'Police here every day' Meanwhile residents in Shaw Heath, as well as those on the neighbouring Bridgehall estate, where Manchester City star Phil Foden and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner went to school, say crime is a constant worry. On the day The Sun visited Bridgehall, police were seen detaining a teenage girl who was suspected of carrying a knife. There's a lot of people around here on drink and drugs and they swear and say to you, 'What you looking at?' Sometimes I'm scared to look at people because of how they react Karen Robinson A mother-of-three, who didn't wish to be named, said she often witnessed drug deals taking place outside her house. 'Cars will pull up and people will get in so they can pretend to be friends,' she said. 'But it's obvious what's going on. I want to move because it's so bad. But it's hard to find a bigger home.' She added that police are 'here every day' due to persistent anti-social behaviour but 'never do anything'. Her neighbour Steven Wood, 39, said he 'worries' about the older members of his family because of 'intimidating' gangs of drug-taking youths hanging around on the streets or in alleyways. 'It used to be lovely round here but it's not now,' he told The Sun. 'You're constantly on edge waiting for something to happen.' He added that his aunty had made a 'long list' of reports to police but 'nothing seems to get done'. Bridgehall resident Karen Robinson, 48, whose daughter was in the same school class as Foden, said it can be 'uncomfortable' living on the estate. 'You look at people the wrong way and they can be a bit funny, a bit nasty,' she said. 'There's a lot of people around here on drink and drugs and they swear and say to you, 'What you looking at?' 'Sometimes I'm scared to look at people because of how they react. 13 Karen Robinson, 48, says kids swear at her regularly Credit: STEVE ALLEN 13 Takeaway owner Mohammed Islam was run over and killed in an attempted car-jacking Credit: MEN Media 13 Connor Read, 19, admitted conspiracy to steal in connection with the killing of a takeaway owner Mohammed Islam Credit: MEN 'I've been on my own for nine years after my daughter left home, and I feel it's a place where I go in, shut my door and keep myself to myself. 'I only really talk to my neighbour and the kids are really cheeky and swear at you and call you names. 'There's no respect at all with the younger generation.' She said there had been a recent machete attack on the estate and other violent incidents, including a taxi driver being stabbed, and she wanted to 'get out'. 'Gangs & guns' Nurse Amy Fletcher, 28, said she knew 'dodgy' activities took place on the estate and police regularly carried out raids. 'Probably the worst thing is people stealing,' she said. 'I saw some kids up on a roof the other day. 'And I thought to myself, 'Please get down from there, that's not sensible'.' And another Bridgehall resident, who only gave his name as David, said: 'There are loads of kids around here who cause trouble. 'We've had problems for years with the e-bikes, scooters and anti-social behaviour. 'They just don't care and taunt the police when they come round.' In January 2021 a carjacking led to a restaurant owner and father-of-three being run over and killed. It used to be lovely round here but it's not now. You're constantly on edge waiting for something to happen Steven Wood Mohammed Islam, 53, who owned the Marple Spice restaurant, died as he tried to stop a teenage gang stealing his silver Mercedes - a 25th wedding anniversary gift from his children - in Romiley, Stockport. He'd tried to cling on to the car before he was sent 'flying' to the ground, with the car then running over his head as the 14-year-old behind the wheel, from Brinnington, 'floored' it. Five teenagers - including Connor Read, 19 - were later sentenced for their role in the shocking crime. In June that year 'gang rivalry' spilled out into the streets of Cheadle Hulme when a 15-year-old gunman fired shots at a convenience store in broad daylight before pointing the gun at a delivery driver. Manchester Crown Court heard how Jacob Richards had become 'firmly entrenched in a culture of gangs and guns' and had 'bragged' about his crimes in raps. Richards also carried out a separate arson attack with fellow gunman Remico Embrack, 20, and was convicted for a catalogue of violent incidents in 2024. County lines crackdown As far back as 2020, a Youth Violence Strategy report had warned of 'increasing levels of serious youth violence, criminal exploitation and working with children who identify themselves as having a gang affiliation'. Among its recommendations was early intervention and knife crime awareness sessions in schools, the identification of 'at risk' children and active policing in crime hot-spots. 13 A dilapidated and boarded-up home on Bridgehall Estate Credit: STEVE ALLEN 13 Amy Fletcher, 28, says there's a lot of 'dodgy' things going on in the area Credit: STEVE ALLEN 13 The estate had been blighted by rising crime Credit: STEVE ALLEN Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and partners are supporting the Home Office's Safer Streets Summer Initiative, aimed at reducing crime across town centres and communities. The force has been involved in other initiatives and operations to tackle serious and organised crime. Programme Challenger sees them working with other agencies to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks, including drug lines, the buying and use of firearms and money laundering. And Operation Venture, launched in 2023, sees officers working as part of a multi-agency team, which includes the Greater Manchester's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), and using a variety of tactics to tackle violence, particularly involving young people and knife crime. Last year it led to three men from Brinnington being charged as part of a crackdown on a county lines drug-dealing operation. Three separate incidents also led to five arrests and the recovery of a large amount of cash and drugs and the 'dismantling' of an OCG in the Shaw Heath area. On the one-year anniversary of Challenger, the force claimed to have made a 'sizeable impact' on reducing serious violence on the streets, with 452 arrests, 130 weapons recovered, and £250,0000 seized. Superintendent David Henthorne, from Greater Manchester Police's Stockport district, said: 'Across Stockport on a daily basis, officers from a variety of teams undertake work to tackle criminality, lock-up those responsible, and help address the roots to these issues. I only really talk to my neighbour and the kids are really cheeky and swear at you and call you names Karen Robinson 'This includes our neighbourhood teams who immerse themselves in their communities, knowing who causes problems and when, and can appropriately patrol and monitor known hotspots to crack down on ASB, drug-dealing, and other offences causing misery in people's lives.' He wanted to encourage anyone in the community who was having issues to contact local officers or do so anonymously via Crimestoppers. A spokesperson for Stockport Council said: 'Stockport is a great place to live and work. We've been regularly recognised among the best places to live by national publications like the Sunday Times. 'This data from 2017 doesn't reflect the Stockport of today: a borough being transformed through major investment and partnership working. 'We know feeling safe is fundamental to people's quality of life, which is why tackling crime and anti-social behaviour remains a priority for us and our partners. 'Through our One Stockport, One Future approach, working closely with partners and Greater Manchester Police, we're tackling the root causes of crime and inequality — building safer, stronger communities for everyone. We encourage all residents to report concerns and access support where needed.' A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) said: 'Greater Manchester has a strong record of working in partnership to tackle serious and organised crime across the city-region, exemplified through Programme Challenger. "There is no evidence to suggest the threat of serious organised crime is getting worse in Stockport. 'Wherever any localised issues arise we work in partnership with GMP and others through Programme Challenger to tackle this with local community organisations. 'There is also exemplary safeguarding work taking place in the borough through the Aspire Complex Safeguarding Team to protect children and young people from harm.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
We live on Angela Rayner's old estate & we're desperate to move… druggies deal on my doorstep & teen girls are tooled up
WITNESSING another drug deal brazenly take place in spitting distance of her doorstep, a nervous mum hurriedly shuts her curtains. Terrified of 'reprisals' if she were to speak out, she and many other residents on the estate in the north west town choose instead to turn a blind eye. 14 14 14 Meanwhile locals in neighbouring communities admit they fear walking the streets at night and complain of intimidating gangs of youths, drug-dealing, anti-social behaviour, stabbings, shootings and the menace of organised crime groups - known as OCGs. Stockport has traditionally seen much lower levels of gang activity than Manchester, and figures show it has the second lowest crime rate in Greater Man chester as a whole. When comparing crime rates across England and Wales, it is ranked 130th out of 313 areas for the 'most dangerous' place to live, with a rate of 80.7 crimes per 1,000 people. But the stats don't tell the full story, for while some of its affluent areas do indeed have low levels, it's more deprived districts are now crime hotspots – with a 2024 council report revealing it to be the eighth most polarised borough in England. Two years ago there were a series of gangland hits which a judge said had 'all the hallmarks' of a dispute between serious organised criminals. Gunman Kieran Morgan, 30, used a sawn-off double shotgun to target two homes and a takeaway, where customers and staff were present. Morgan had acted on the orders of Zaki Shazad, 22, who, in turn, was said to be operating on behalf of an unidentified more senior criminal. Judge Jonathan Seely, at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, described the shootings as an 'increasingly terrifying phenomenon for the citizens of our country' when he jailed Morgan for 18 years and Shazad for 16 years in June. 'Bad families on every street' One of Stockport's so-called crime hotspots is the 'Brinny' estate in Brinnington, which has become notorious for its gangs of youths causing mayhem on e-bikes and scooters, while drugs and anti-social behaviour are everyday concerns. Some residents are too terrified to leave their homes at night and won't contact police due to fears they'll be labelled a 'grass'. Chilling moment schoolboy, 12, stalks playground brandishing HUGE knife in front of pupils shouting 'what ARE you doing' 14 14 14 One woman, who didn't wish to be named, told The Sun 'there are bad families on every street', but the threat of 'reprisals' meant a lot of crimes go unreported. A mother collecting her child from a nearby school added: 'You see people who are on drugs or who've been drinking. 'I certainly wouldn't walk around here at night. There are lots of kids on e-bikes and scooters and they're really dangerous because you can't hear them coming. 'There's also anti-social behaviour with kids hanging around, although it's not quite as bad as it used to be. 'I do think a bigger police presence would be a good thing.' 'Police here every day' Meanwhile residents in Shaw Heath, as well as those on the neighbouring Bridgehall estate, where Manchester City star Phil Foden and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner went to school, say crime is a constant worry. On the day The Sun visited Bridgehall, police were seen detaining a teenage girl who was suspected of carrying a knife. There's a lot of people around here on drink and drugs and they swear and say to you, 'What you looking at?' Sometimes I'm scared to look at people because of how they react Karen Robinson A mother-of-three, who didn't wish to be named, said she often witnessed drug deals taking place outside her house. 'Cars will pull up and people will get in so they can pretend to be friends,' she said. 'But it's obvious what's going on. I want to move because it's so bad. But it's hard to find a bigger home.' She added that police are 'here every day' due to persistent anti-social behaviour but 'never do anything'. Her neighbour Steven Wood, 39, said he 'worries' about the older members of his family because of 'intimidating' gangs of drug-taking youths hanging around on the streets or in alleyways. 'It used to be lovely round here but it's not now,' he told The Sun. 'You're constantly on edge waiting for something to happen.' He added that his aunty had made a 'long list' of reports to police but 'nothing seems to get done'. Bridgehall resident Karen Robinson, 48, whose daughter was in the same school class as Foden, said it can be 'uncomfortable' living on the estate. 'You look at people the wrong way and they can be a bit funny, a bit nasty,' she said. 'There's a lot of people around here on drink and drugs and they swear and say to you, 'What you looking at?' 'Sometimes I'm scared to look at people because of how they react. 14 14 'I've been on my own for nine years after my daughter left home, and I feel it's a place where I go in, shut my door and keep myself to myself. 'I only really talk to my neighbour and the kids are really cheeky and swear at you and call you names. 'There's no respect at all with the younger generation.' She said there had been a recent machete attack on the estate and other violent incidents, including a taxi driver being stabbed, and she wanted to 'get out'. 'Gangs & guns' Nurse Amy Fletcher, 28, said she knew 'dodgy' activities took place on the estate and police regularly carried out raids. 'Probably the worst thing is people stealing,' she said. 'I saw some kids up on a roof the other day. 'And I thought to myself, 'Please get down from there, that's not sensible'.' And another Bridgehall resident, who only gave his name as David, said: 'There are loads of kids around here who cause trouble. 'We've had problems for years with the e-bikes, scooters and anti-social behaviour. 'They just don't care and taunt the police when they come round.' In January 2021 a carjacking led to a restaurant owner and father-of-three being run over and killed. It used to be lovely round here but it's not now. You're constantly on edge waiting for something to happen Steven Wood Mohammed Islam, 53, who owned the Marple Spice restaurant, died as he tried to stop a teenage gang stealing his silver Mercedes - a 25th wedding anniversary gift from his children - in Romiley, Stockport. He'd tried to cling on to the car before he was sent 'flying' to the ground, with the car then running over his head as the 14-year-old behind the wheel, from Brinnington, 'floored' it. Five teenagers - including Connor Read, 19 - were later sentenced for their role in the shocking crime. In June that year 'gang rivalry' spilled out into the streets of Cheadle Hulme when a 15-year-old gunman fired shots at a convenience store in broad daylight before pointing the gun at a delivery driver. Manchester Crown Court heard how Jacob Richards had become 'firmly entrenched in a culture of gangs and guns' and had 'bragged' about his crimes in raps. Richards also carried out a separate arson attack with fellow gunman Remico Embrack, 20, and was convicted for a catalogue of violent incidents in 2024. County lines crackdown As far back as 2020, a Youth Violence Strategy report had warned of 'increasing levels of serious youth violence, criminal exploitation and working with children who identify themselves as having a gang affiliation'. Among its recommendations was early intervention and knife crime awareness sessions in schools, the identification of 'at risk' children and active policing in crime hot-spots. 14 14 14 Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and partners are supporting the Home Office's Safer Streets Summer Initiative, aimed at reducing crime across town centres and communities. The force has been involved in other initiatives and operations to tackle serious and organised crime. Programme Challenger sees them working with other agencies to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks, including drug lines, the buying and use of firearms and money laundering. And Operation Venture, launched in 2023, sees officers working as part of a multi-agency team, which includes the Greater Manchester's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), and using a variety of tactics to tackle violence, particularly involving young people and knife crime. Last year it led to three men from Brinnington being charged as part of a crackdown on a county lines drug-dealing operation. Three separate incidents also led to five arrests and the recovery of a large amount of cash and drugs and the 'dismantling' of an OCG in the Shaw Heath area. On the one-year anniversary of Challenger, the force claimed to have made a 'sizeable impact' on reducing serious violence on the streets, with 452 arrests, 130 weapons recovered, and £250,0000 seized. Superintendent David Henthorne, from Greater Manchester Police's Stockport district, said: 'Across Stockport on a daily basis, officers from a variety of teams undertake work to tackle criminality, lock-up those responsible, and help address the roots to these issues. 'This includes our neighbourhood teams who immerse themselves in their communities, knowing who causes problems and when, and can appropriately patrol and monitor known hotspots to crack down on ASB, drug-dealing, and other offences causing misery in people's lives.' He wanted to encourage anyone in the community who was having issues to contact local officers or do so anonymously via Crimestoppers. A spokesperson for Stockport Council said: 'Stockport is a great place to live and work. We've been regularly recognised among the best places to live by national publications like the Sunday Times. 'This data from 2017 doesn't reflect the Stockport of today: a borough being transformed through major investment and partnership working. 'We know feeling safe is fundamental to people's quality of life, which is why tackling crime and anti-social behaviour remains a priority for us and our partners. 'Through our One Stockport, One Future approach, working closely with partners and Greater Manchester Police, we're tackling the root causes of crime and inequality — building safer, stronger communities for everyone. We encourage all residents to report concerns and access support where needed.' A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) said: 'Greater Manchester has a strong record of working in partnership to tackle serious and organised crime across the city-region, exemplified through Programme Challenger. "There is no evidence to suggest the threat of serious organised crime is getting worse in Stockport. 'Wherever any localised issues arise we work in partnership with GMP and others through Programme Challenger to tackle this with local community organisations. 'There is also exemplary safeguarding work taking place in the borough through the Aspire Complex Safeguarding Team to protect children and young people from harm.'
ITV News
10-07-2025
- ITV News
Sussex Police bust £24.5m drug smuggling plot orchestrated from prison cell
A convicted people smuggler orchestrated the importation of millions of pounds worth of illegal drugs into the UK from his prison cell. Arturas Jusas masterminded numerous operations totalling almost a tonne of cocaine and ketamine, using mobile phones to communicate with other members of the organised crime gang (OCG). Together, they provided a transportation service for other OCGs looking to bring significant quantities of cocaine and ketamine into the UK from Europe. But following an investigation by Sussex Police's Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), working in partnership with Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU), and the National Crime Agency, Jusas and his associates were arrested, charged and convicted. Andrew Gudz, Ihor Korobets and Russell King were sentenced to a total of 56 years' imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday 8 July. Their sentences follow the successful convictions of several members of another OCG last year. Acting on intelligence, police intercepted around 70kg of cocaine and 632kg of ketamine – with a combined estimated street value of £24.5 million – from two vans which were stopped on the A26 at Maresfield on 26 July, 2023. The Class A and B substances, concealed in 30 cardboard boxes, had been shipped into the UK by lorry driver Pavel Budzko, who travelled into Newhaven port via ferry. From there, it was arranged for the drugs to be transported into the back of two vans at a secluded location nearby. The Ford Transit Connect was driven by Charlotte Moore. Stephen Norris was the passenger. The Vauxhall Combo was driven by Abdul Soohraby. All three were arrested and remanded in custody. Budzko had evaded police, but was later arrested entering the UK again on 28 September, 2023. He was also remanded in custody. In the meantime, officers conducted enquiries with the NCA, which revealed another overseas drugs run had been attempted by Moore and Norris in May 2023, just two months before their arrest. The lorry driver on that occasion was Kiryl Laptseu, and the packages contained the DNA of Laptseu and Norris. The suspects were subsequently charged and sentenced when they appeared before Lewes Crown Court on 27 June, 2024. Norris, 36, and Moore, 32, both of Middleburg Street, Hull, were both charged with being concerned in the supply of 70kg cocaine and 632kg ketamine on 26 July, and fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of 107kg cocaine between 30 April and 7 May. Norris was found guilty and was sentenced to a total of 10 years' imprisonment. Moore was found guilty and was sentenced to a total of 13 year's imprisonment. Budzko, 50, of no fixed address, was charged with fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of 70kg cocaine and 632kg ketamine on 26 July. He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to a total of nine years' imprisonment. Laptseu, 42, of no fixed address, was charged with fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of 107kg cocaine. He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to nine years' imprisonment. Soohraby, 53, of Exeter Drive, Sheffield, was charged with possession with intent to supply ketamine. He pleaded not guilty and was acquitted. Evidence was recovered from the download of Moore's mobile phone, which included a thread of messages in a private WhatsApp group titled 'Unload 1'. The group appears to have been created specifically for the importation of the drugs on 26 July, 2023. On 2 July, 2024, Gudz and Korobets were arrested after being identified as participants of the WhatsApp group. They were remanded in custody as enquiries continued. Gudz was identified after a mobile phone was seized from him by Essex Police on 16 November 2023. He was arrested for money laundering after he was handed a bag containing nearly £20,000 in cash from another member of the OCG, King. It was established this was the phone used by him in the 'Unload 1' group. Further analysis revealed another number which belonged to Jusas. While he was a silent participant in the chat, he was known to be the boss of the organised crime group and therefore played a key role in the operations. Previously, on 21 December, 2021, Jusas was sentenced to nine years and nine months' imprisonment for conspiracy to traffic 69 illegal immigrants into the UK by boat. Around the time of the drugs importation, on 26 July, 2023, a number in the 'Unload 1' group was attributed to Jusas who was at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk, where he was serving his sentence. This supported his involvement in the operation. King, Korobets and Jusas were also part of a corresponding WhatsApp group titled 'Loading'. This group was recovered from the download of King's mobile phone. King was identified as the person who met with Budzko to load the 30 boxes into the back of his lorry while in France, on 25 July, 2023 – a day before the drugs were seized in Maresfield. King's mobile phone was seized from him when he was arrested on 24 August 2024, after he returned to the UK in his motorhome smuggling in 100 kilos of Ketamine. Evidence from his mobile phone revealed conversations with Jusas around the organisation of the drugs being loaded onto the lorry, driven by Budzko. There was also several other chat threads named 'Load', 'Load Tonight' and 'Loading', indicating there had been several more importations. The second part of the investigation therefore centred around the involvement of Gudz, Korobets and King, who all appeared before Lewes Crown Court (sitting at Hove) for trial which commenced on 8 April this year, as well as Jusas. The following defendants were sentenced at the same court on Tuesday 8 July: Gudz, 39, of Wards Wharf Approach, London, was found guilty by jury of conspiracy to import Class A drugs (cocaine) and conspiracy to import Class B drugs (ketamine), and sentenced to a total of 18 years' imprisonment. Korobets, 42, of Wards Wharf Approach, London, was found guilty by jury of conspiracy to import Class A drugs (cocaine) Class B drugs (ketamine), and sentenced to a total of 16 years' imprisonment. King, 63, previously of The Green, Royston, Essex, was found guilty by jury of conspiracy to import Class A drugs (cocaine) and sentenced to a total of 22 years' imprisonment. Jusas, 38, previously of Wandsworth Road, London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import Class A drugs (cocaine) and conspiracy to import Class B drugs (ketamine), and is due to appear for sentencing at a later date, yet to be set. Detective Constable Laura Pettitt of Sussex SOCU, said: 'Our investigations revealed that Jusas was able to organise this substantial importation of illegal drugs – the largest ever seizure of its kind in Sussex – from within the four walls of his prison cell. 'The messages recovered from this phone show that he was actively offering business to transport drugs into the UK through a series of networks which were designed to avoid detection. This included instructions on how to package the drugs so they could blend in with other legitimate packages and how to avoid being spotted at border control. 'The criminal activity was clearly designed to fund the lavish lifestyles of these organised crime gang members, from designer clothes and fragrances to high-end vehicles. But it was only a matter of time before we caught up with them. 'These significant sentences demonstrate that we will come after organised crime gangs and the individuals associated with them, no matter their position in the hierarchy, as we strive to protect the public from serious harm and bring offenders to justice. 'Illegal drugs cause harm and misery to those that become addicted to them and to their families and friends, often linked to other crimes being committed to fund their addiction. This in turn impacts our wider communities and affects us all as the cost to society remains high. 'The way these organised crime groups operate poses a significant risk to vulnerable and young people, who find themselves being dragged into the drugs world and potentially being exploited.' Detective Superintendent Tim Shaw, Head of Serious and Organised Crime for Surrey and Sussex, added: 'This operation disrupted and dismantled a national OCG causing harm to the public in our counties. 'The supply of Class A drugs causes thousands of premature deaths, and also causes violent crime and brings weapons and fear into our communities. I have no doubt that society will be safer as a result of these convictions and significant sentences.'
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Greater Manchester Police make 67 arrests in area where people are scared to 'grass'
It is a corner of Salford where a no-grass culture has held firm in the past. But a crackdown on criminality is making progress. Two shootings were the catalyst for an operation to dismantle organised crime groups operating in the Little Hulton area. As well as firearms incidents, Ellesmere Shopping Centre has been a target for thefts, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour, Greater Manchester Police say. Buses have been vandalised and yobs on off-road bikes and e-scooters - often wearing balaclavas - have caused disruption and fear among the community. Police believe 15 to 20 individuals are members of several organised crime groups (OCGs) in the area. READ MORE: Police want to speak to these two men READ MORE: Teenager disappears after boarding flight at Manchester Airport Launched in January, after months of intelligence gathering in 2024, Operation Broadway also involves Salford council's Safeguarding Team and housing associations, working with police to tackle the 'exploitation of the vulnerable' by criminals and to steer young people away from being associated with OCGs. Six months in it has resulted in 67 arrests and 121 stop-searches in the first quarter of this year. The arrests have been for suspected offences including drugs possession and dealing, firearms offences, theft, assault, burglary, anti-social behaviour. Many of these arrests have resulted in the charges and punishments. In addition, more than 100 weapons have been recovered through a mixture of amnesties and proactive searches – recovering everything from imitation firearms to illegal blades. Cash has been seized, hundreds of cannabis plants recovered and destroyed, and police say "multiple children who were at threat of exploitation given the appropriate safeguards." In an interview with the Manchester Evening News in February, Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Humphreys, said of the operation: "The December shooting was the tipping point for us. We decided we needed to do something to focus on Little Hulton. The difficulty in Salford is people sometimes feel they can't speak to the police - that culture of not grassing. "We have got a Crimestoppers initiative running to really try and drive the community to tell us what is happening - whether that be anti-social behaviour all the way up to organised crime, to help build an intelligence picture so we can take action." His colleague, Detective Inspector Rebecca McGuigan, from GMP's Challenger Team, said today: 'The work being done in Little Hulton has seen multiple arrests, resulting in charges for offences ranging from drugs to weapons. 'Working closely with our partners in the community, we have been able to ensure repeat offenders are closely monitored by everyone from housing to local PCSOs, meaning they can receive the appropriate warning, notice, or punishment.' Sergeant Helen Matthews, from the local neighbourhood team, said: 'The local Little Hulton neighbourhood team have continued to support and provide numerous officers for the ongoing operation in the area, conducting patrols, warrants, and more as we work towards ridding the streets of violent crime and the nuisance anti social behaviour that can come from it. 'Neighbourhood officers are regularly on patrol and we will always keep an eye out for areas flagged with us by members of the community. If you have had any issues with somewhere in particular – whether that be an address, street, or area – please do get in touch with us. 'All of the community's intelligence and tip-offs greatly enhances our ability to know who is causing problems and where – and subsequently means we can crack down with the relevant punishments.' DCI Humphreys added: "A housing organisation worked closely with us so we were able to get enough evidence for a closure order on a property that was causing us issues. They are also ensuring that if properties become empty the right kind of people who will help build a stable community move in." The most recent shooting was in December. Police believe two suspects on two motorbikes carried out a gun attack on a home in Ellesmere Close off Queen Street. Three shots were fired, leaving two bullet holes in a window and one in the frame beneath. The December 27 attack is still under investigation. The first shooting was in May last year. At Manchester Crown Court, three men were jailed for involvement in that incident
