Why politicians, not just top cops, must bear responsibility for our police failures

direct to your inboxHundreds of people have called a helpline for crime victims unhappy with how Greater Manchester Police has handled their cases.The crime support line was established by mayor Andy Burnham after the force failed to record 80,000 crimes in a year - including one in four violent crimes.But the helpline will be closed down from tomorrow (Friday February 19) due to a ‘very low number’ of new callers in recent weeks.There have been 240 calls to the helpline since it launched in

direct to your inboxThe Greater Manchester Pension Fund has been criticised for its ‘woeful’ response to calls to divest from fossil fuel firms and align itself with local climate change policies.GMPF, the largest local government pension scheme in the UK, invests more than £1bn in oil and gas stocks each year, a strategy which has proven controversial amongst environmental campaigners.However the fund says it is also the largest investor in renewable energy and energy efficiency with £500m tied

straight to your inbox every day for freeWhen Marcus Rashford was asked to move from the right of the Manchester United attack to the left at The Hawthorns on Sunday it was a trudge across the pitch he has become used to.In three of his last six games for United Rashford has occupied both wing positions in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's three-pronged attack at one stage or another.

direct to your inboxPerhaps it was the rare sight of sunshine in the morning sky, in an otherwise bleak month, that inspired such positivity.Or maybe she was simply thinking ahead to Valentine’s Day this weekend?Whatever the motive, our social media editor was inspired to write this cheerful post on the Manchester Evening News Facebook page on Thursday.“Have you met someone in lockdown? Or been on a Zoom date? We want to hear your lockdown love stories.”It didn’t quite pan out as she’d

direct to your inboxA south Manchester care provider that received a ‘damning’ report by health officials has made ‘drastic improvements’ to its service. In June last year, Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors visited We Care Solutions, based in Chorlton, which provides palliative care for patients living at home with dementia.

direct to your inboxThe Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester held a closed meeting with Trafford council this week to discuss policing, following the city-region’s police force being placed into special measures.The meeting came after local calls for Mayor Andy Burnham to set out an action plan to bring Greater Manchester Police ‘up to scratch’ in Trafford.Conservative members of the council criticised the fact that the meeting was held in private and felt members of the public,

Do you buy your children a Valentine's Card? Will you be doing anything special as a family? Or do you think the day should just be celebrated by couples? Let us know in the comments here, or share your views on our Manchester Family Facebook page. But not everyone thinks the day should be shared with children.

Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan."Real life Elsa," said one fan."Elsa vibes," remarked another."Oh wow.

interactive map shows the number of positive Covid test results in each neighbourhood across the country. It uses Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

direct to your inboxManchester council will review its response to severe flooding caused by Storm Christoph after some residents had requests for sandbags rejected.Around 2,000 homes and businesses in East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden were evacuated on January 20 as the River Mersey came within centimetres of bursting its banks.In the aftermath of the storm, Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the Didsbury Basin, which the Environment Agency said had served its purpose.Before the

direct to your inboxThe country's top counter-terror police officer has sent his sympathies to those left bereaved and injured by the 'horror' of the Manchester Arena suicide bomb attack, saying he thinks of the victims everyday.Neil Basu, the Metropolitan Police's Assistant Commissioner for specialist operations and the national lead for counter-terrorism policing, spoke before giving evidence at the ongoing public inquiry into the atrocity.And he went on to describe dealing with an incident of

Ramsbottom in Bury and an hour's drive on the M66 from the centre of Manchester.

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United fans have demanded the club sign a new striker in order to mount a sustainable Premier League title challenge.United were rejected by Erling Haaland in December 2019 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was desperate to add to his forward line.Anthony Martial ended the season with a career-best goal return and Edinson Cavani was signed in the summer in order to add experience to the forward line.However, during the current campaign, Martial has

direct to your inboxA woman has been handed a £10,000 fine for breaking lockdown laws after a gathering at her home following her brother-in-law's funeral.Greater Manchester Police (GMP) say she ignored warnings given out to her by officers ahead of the event not to host people and that the gathering had put 'many people's lives at risk.' She has accused officers of being 'unfair' and heavy handed over the sanction.

Ainsworth, just after 7pm last night (Wednesday January 27). According to cops, four men managed to get into the shop through a window but nothing was taken.

resurfaced and been applauded on Reddit this week - slammed the customer for allegedly swearing at staff and behaving in an 'embarrassing' way.

direct to your inboxTributes have been paid to a young gran who died from coronavirus just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.Melinda Coleman, from Fallowfield, passed away in Manchester Royal Infirmary on January 12.The day before she died her son, Michael, visited her on the ICU ward.As she lay unconscious, his four-year-old daughter sang 'You are My Sunshine' to her on a video call."She was probably awake for about five minutes when I visited her," Michael said"She went back to sleep,