'Officers are fed up of repeat lockdown breakers': Greater Manchester Police boss speaks out over calls for tougher enforcement

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester Police has at times ‘deliberately withheld’ information from the mayor’s office amid battles for transparency that became a ‘war of attrition’, Andy Burnham has claimed, in a veiled attack on the previous Chief Constable.In a lengthy and unprecedented diatribe on the force’s culture and leadership over the past four years, the mayor promised what he said would be the first ‘open review of the force’ in at least two decades.He claimed that concerns raised

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester leaders have agreed to spend more than £69m on developing a ‘world class’ public transport system in the city-region. The combined authority will progress plans for a long-awaited £15m railway station in Golborne, extra Metrolink stops, and improved bus services on northern and eastern routes.

direct to your inboxTrafford council has called on Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to set out ‘an action plan’ to address the city-region’s police force being placed into special measures.A motion submitted by the Liberal Democrats party at last night’s full council meeting passed, with a Labour amendment.Around 8,000 crimes in Trafford went unrecorded by GMP’s systems last year – 80,000 across the city region.The motion called for clear steps to be outlined as to how Greater Manchester

direct to your inboxA weather warning remains in place for Greater Manchester this morning as many parts of the region wake up to snow.After temperatures plummeted to below freezing overnight, many areas have reported a dusting of snow in the early hours.Local forecasters say this has been followed by freezing fog, widespread ice and a harsh frost.And people travelling this morning are being urged to take care on the roads.The Met Office yellow warning for ice which came into effect overnight

direct to your inboxThe Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is to open emergency Covid beds for adults in a sign of the unprecedented pressure facing Greater Manchester’s hospitals.Sir Richard Leese, the region’s health chief, said the situation in the system was now ‘critical’ as NHS bosses have scrambled to discharge as many people as possible ahead of a sustained peak over the coming three weeks.Crisis meetings have been held to determine the ability to scale up beds, as Salford Royal and

direct to your inboxThe NHS has sadly confirmed the deaths of 29 more patients in hospitals in Greater Manchester who had tested positive for Covid-19.The region's hospital death toll now stands at 4,757.NHS bosses said on Friday a further 993 people who tested positive for the virus have died in hospitals across England.It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 65,104.In the north west, a further 94 hospital deaths were reported, the NHS said on Friday.A

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was placed in ‘special measures’ following a damning inspection report last month.

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham has promised a 'new era' at Greater Manchester Police after the force was placed in 'special measures'.The mayor held his first policing press conference yesterday since former Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was asked to step down in the wake of a scathing inspection report.

direct to your inboxPolice have declared a major incident due to concerns about the impact of Storm Christoph.An amber weather warning for rain has been issued as torrential downpours are set to hit the region.It's in force until Thursday lunchtime, with forecasters warning of potential flooding.A top police chief urged people to leave their home if they need to despite the stay at home message.Residents are being urged to follow their local authority's advice about evacuations.Assistant Chief

direct to your inboxA flood 'alert' has been put in force in Greater Manchester today after hours of heavy rainfall overnight.The alert warns of 'possible' flooding around the area of the middle River Mersey catchment area.It includes areas near Bramhall in Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.The Environment Agency warned: "Flooding is possible - be prepared."And Transport for Greater Manchester said: "With heavy rain in Greater Manchester this morning, expect flooding in some areas.

direct to your inboxManchester Evening News readers are overwhelmingly in favour of the return to a full lockdown, according to our latest survey.A survey of 8,751 people on the site found 81 per cent of those who responded agreed with measures introduced on Monday (January 4).People in Greater Manchester were less likely to be in favour of full lockdown than others across England, based on surveys across Reach's national and regional websites, with 85pc overall backing the full lockdown.The

direct to your inboxA weather warning has been issued with temperatures to plummet below freezing in Greater Manchester.Some areas, including parts of the city centre, saw a dusting of snow overnight.Pictures from city centre residents showed streets in Ancoats lined with snow and the water frozen at New Islington Marina early this morning.And forecasters say there is a possibility of more falling as they warn of the likelihood of freezing conditions for the next 48 hours.After a freezing start

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester Police responded to 1,500 reports of ‘stupid and selfish’ people breaking Covid-19 laws over the New Year period.More than 1,000 callouts involved officers breaking up house parties held inside residential homes, properties rented for the night and short-term lets.‘Hundreds’ of fines have been handed out to those attending illegal gatherings in the past week, including people who went to a rave on an industrial estate.Rising infection rates are also

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police officer who repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl has been jailed.Farooq Ahmed, 37, walked into a police station with a confession note before Christmas.

Follow our dedicated live blog here The ones that are closed are providing places for key worker and vulnerable children, as they did during the first lockdown. If your child's school has closed, get in touch with us on our Manchester Family Facebook page here, let us know in the comments here, or email [email protected]. These are the schools that have closed by boroughMount Carmel RC, BlakleyOswald Road Primary, ChorltonSt Peter's Catholic Primary, WythenshaweBirchfields Primary,

direct to your inboxAn ice warning covering parts of Greater Manchester has been issued by weather forecasters.The Met Office has warned the public to take care on untreated roads, pavements and cycle lanes.Injuries from slips and falls are feared as temperatures continue to drop below freezing.The warning - issued today and covering eastern areas of Greater Manchester - says icy stretches are likely to cause 'difficult' travel conditions.The yellow-coded warning for ice will be in place from

direct to your inboxThe streets were empty as Greater Manchester said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in a new year - but many were determined to keep alive at least one tradition.Our video from Werneth Low shows how many parts of Greater Manchester were ablaze with colour as people set off fireworks at midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2021.Around 200 socially distanced people gathered on the popular spot to watch the moment our region said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in the New Year.Car horns

direct to your inboxIt has been a year like no other.However Great Mancunians have still made headlines across the world, for all sorts of reasons.Here we look at those who have put the region on the map in 2020, a year we will never forget.2020 has undoubtedly belonged to Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.However it is his incredible work off the pitch which has made the headlines, even more than his impressive goal-scoring feats on it.The Withington-born and Wythenshawe raised

direct to your inbox"It's absolutely gut-wrenching."Hair salon owner Jane Nixon describes how she felt as Matt Hancock announced that Greater Manchester would be moving into Tier 4.And it's a feeling thousands of business owners across the region will be familiar with.A change in restrictions, businesses finally being allowed to open then being forced to shut again just a few weeks later.

direct to your inboxDoctors and paramedics say they are bracing themselves for a new tide of Covid patients to hit Greater Manchester's hospitals within weeks. Speaking as plans for the region's move to Tier 4 were announced and the return to school for secondary pupils was delayed, Dr Carole Gavin, a consultant in Greater Manchester, said concerns were growing as hospitals in the south battle to find beds as infection rates - largely found to be caused by the new mutant strain - rise.