Greater Manchester Police – Page 22

Staring into the abyss

As an eight year old lad, I was hit by a car whilst crossing the main road near the tied colliery cottage in Whitwood, Castleford that was my family home at that time (number fifteen, the house with the unkempt gable in the picture). The injuries were not life threatening, but I was detained inContinue reading “Staring into the abyss”

Peering Into The Gloom

In an article published on this website on 11th November, 2018, ‘The mystery of the missing peer review’ (read in full here), the importance of freedom of information (FOI) requests as an aid to journalism was highlighted. It investigated the background to an alleged ‘cover-up’ by the chief constable of Greater Manchester Police over well-publicisedContinue reading “Peering Into The Gloom”

The dreaded vote of confidence

“She has acted with the utmost integrity“. So says Greater Manchester’s high profile Mayor, Andy Burnham, as part of a limp vote of confidence in his under-siege deputy, Baroness Beverley Hughes. Except that she didn’t. The Burnham endorsement came as part of a blustery defence of the sly, duplicitous, incompetent handling of a serious complaintContinue reading “The dreaded vote of confidence”

Your Cheque Is In The Post

Back in the day, when internet banking was still a pipe dream, and PPI was being mis-sold on an industrial scale, a cheque book was the essential financial accessory. It that golden era, television and radio comedians cheerily punted the world’s biggest lie as “your cheque is in the post“. A nod to the unscrupulousContinue reading “Your Cheque Is In The Post”

When the ‘cover-up’ becomes the story

“Hi, Mabs. Ian Hopkins speaking.” So began the search for a new member of the most troubled command team in British policing. Even before the post was advertised. In footballing parlance, Chief Superintendent Maboob “Mabs” Hussain from the neighbouring West Yorkshire force (WYP) had been “tapped up”. Hopkins, the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) chief constable, ultimately,Continue reading “When the ‘cover-up’ becomes the story”

Mystery of the ‘missing’ peer review

An important part of an investigative journalist’s armoury is the Freedom of Information Act, 2000. The essential principle being that public authorities, unless they can provide a good, and lawful, reason not to do so, must disclose information, upon request, by a member of the public. Or, indeed, a reporter chasing down an ‘exclusive’. ‘PublicContinue reading “Mystery of the ‘missing’ peer review”