Business Manchester

More than 100 knives surrendered in Rochdale amnesty bins

News

Helen Greaney

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26/02/2025

More than 100 knives surrendered in Rochdale amnesty bins

Knife amnesty bins placed in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, have received 111 bladed articles.

Between November 2024 and this month, 67 knives were placed in designated bins in Heywood, nine in Middleton and 35 in Rochdale.

Since the amnesty bins were introduced, police officers have been able to recover almost double the number of bladed articles they were obtaining beforehand.

The Forever Amnesty gives members of the public the chance to dispose of a knife of any kind anonymously with no questions asked, by simply depositing it into the amnesty bin at their local police station. Those surrendering knives are not required to give any personal details and will not face prosecution for carrying them.

Recorded knife crime data for the district of Rochdale showed that figures dropped from 182 incidents between January and June 2024 to 143 from July to December 2024.

Officers are also carrying out more stop searches in the district, up to 1,265 between July and December compared to 1,114 between January and June 2024. More offensive weapons are also being found through these stop searches, up from 192 to 224 for the same time periods.

Inspector Graham Cooke (pictured) said: “In the last six months over 200 knives have been taken off the streets of Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood, this is a fantastic result and is testament to the knife amnesty bins initiative and to the support of our communities.

“We are determined to tackle knife crime and would urge residents who either have old knives they want to dispose of, or, are in possession of illegal knives and weapons, to place them in the knife amnesty bins situated at the front of Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood Police Stations, you can do so anonymously, knowing that these knives and weapons will be destroyed, preventing them from being used in criminality and causing serious injury or death.

“As part of our initiative we spent the day at Edgar Wood Academy, Middleton with a colleague from the prison service, talking to all year groups about the consequences of carrying knives.

“We discussed recent tragic incidents, showed them some weapons seized on the streets and graphic images of injuries caused. The sessions were well received by students and staff and will hopefully have a lasting impact on their futures.”

Manchester’s 5,000 recycled Christmas trees will help local parks

Helen Greaney

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26/02/2025

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Manchester’s 5,000 recycled Christmas trees will help local parks

Local parks in Manchester are still wrapped up in the festive buzz following last year’s drive to encourage people to recycle their Christmas trees.

Over the festive season, the council announced that residents could dispose of their Christmas tree at designated drop off points around the city to help with recycling or they could get a collection from a local charity.

Figures from the end of last year to January 2025, show that 5, 309 Christmas trees were recycled.

The chippings processed at Wythenshawe Park and Boggart Hole Clough will go on to be used in local parks around Manchester.

In partnership with local charity Just Helping, the We Love Manchester charity and St Ann’s hospice, £117, 675 was raised for local hospices and charities, whilst an estimated 84, 944kg on CO2 emissions was saved.

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon said: “It’s fantastic to see how the push for recycling Christmas trees last year has resulted in pouring back into our local communities with over 350 trees collected from our designated drop-off points.

“Manchester parks will directly benefit from recycled chippings, we’ve saved 84, 944kg of CO2 emissions and raised over £117,000 to go into the charity sector. Just Helping have played a key role in this success and we look forward to advancing this recycling initiative year on year.”

Georgia Vacher, Manchester collection lead for Just Helping, said:”I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved in Manchester this year. Our incredible team of volunteers braved all kinds of weather to collect thousands of trees, and the generosity of our supporters has been overwhelming.

“This is so much more than a fundraiser – it’s a way for the community to come together to support amazing causes like St Ann’s Hospice, Francis House Children’s Hospice, We Love MCR and other charities across Manchester, while also helping the environment. A huge thank you to everyone who registered their tree and donated. Together, we’re making a difference.”

Derelict former school in Ramsbottom to be auctioned

Community

Helen Greaney

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26/02/2025

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Derelict former school in Ramsbottom to be auctioned

A derelict former school which has been attracting vandalism for years is to be sold at auction.

New Summerseat House in Ramsbottom has been vacant since 2016 when its former use as a Pupil Referral Unit ceased.

Since that time the buildings have significantly deteriorated and the property suffers from ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour.

There have been three attempts to sell the property previously via a tender process, but each time the sale has not completed.

Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “The disposal of this site will bring forward the restoration of this Listed building, end problems caused to local residents by the empty building attracting anti-social behaviour, and remove ongoing liabilities to the council for security and maintenance.”

Councillors are due to approve the plans at the next cabinet meeting on March 5.

Newton Heath community asked for suggestions to improve centre

Community

Helen Greaney

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26/02/2025

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Newton Heath community asked for suggestions to improve centre

The Newton Heath community is being asked what investment they would like to see in their district centre, in a consultation opened today.

The engagement opportunity will look at how best to unlock the potential of the north Manchester neighbourhood as part of a city-wide approach to investing in and improving the city’s high streets.

The responses from local people will help Manchester City Council to develop a long-term plan for Newton Heath – or Neighbourhood Development Framework (NDF) – that will help guide future development and improvements in the neighbourhood.

Possible investment opportunities include providing new high-quality housing or a new public square and better public spaces that are more welcoming, safe and enjoyable, improving and expanding community facilities or improving health care facilities.

Local people and businesses can respond to the consultation online or complete a paper copy of the survey at Newton Heath Library.

Two in-person drop-in events will also allow visitors to take a look at a range of display boards and speak to the team to find out more.

The sessions will take place at Newton Heath Library, Old Church Street, M40 2JB on Friday, from 10am – 2pm and Saturday, from 9.30am – noon.

The consultation for the project, funded by the UK government, is through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Councillor Gavin White said: “We have made a clear commitment to investing in Manchester’s high streets, which are the heart and soul of our communities. Already we have key projects nearing completion in Gorton and Withington – and key schemes on the way in Moston and Wythenshawe.

“This is about understanding what services and facilities our residents need and want from the district centres and working in collaboration with communities to invest in the right things.

“That’s why engagement opportunities like this are so important. This is the chance for local people to have their say and help guide the long-term development plan for Newton Heath.”

Jail for violent rapist who attacked lone woman

Crime

Helen Greaney

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26/02/2025

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Jail for violent rapist who attacked lone woman

A man has been jailed for 13 years, with an extended licence of seven years, after being found guilty of raping a woman on a night out in Manchester.

Fabrice Kapena (32) of Bridgelea Road, Manchester, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, for offences of rape, robbery, theft, and strangulation.

The court heard how a woman had been enjoying a night out at a bar in Deansgate in the early hours of August 7, 2022, when she was approached by Kapena, who told her he could get her and her group into another venue, as he knew the people on the door.

After getting in his car, Kapena promised to loop back and pick her friends up, but instead drove out of the city centre and became threatening.

Once on a quiet road, Kapena grabbed the victim around the neck and strangled her, before raping her. The woman fought back, managing to hit him and scratch his face.

At around 3am the victim was able to ring the doorbell of a nearby care home, where a care assistant immediately called 999 and supported her.

Following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police, Kapena was identified and a warrant executed at his home, in which he was arrested.

Kapena was additionally sentenced for a robbery and theft in the months preceding the sexual offence. In February that year, a woman was taken to Kapena’s address, before becoming uncomfortable and leaving the property. She later discovered that her bag no longer contained her phone or bank card.

In July, Kapena began speaking to a woman in Manchester city centre, before driving her to the Withington area. He then became increasingly threatening, before taking the woman’s phone and punching her to the ground. The woman was left in the area with no way of getting home, before eventually flagging a bus down.

Detective inspector Andy Worthington said: “Kapena’s disgusting crimes have now resulted in a lengthy prison sentence, and I am glad that he is now behind bars for his offences.

“Fabrice Kapena is a dangerous individual who subjected a woman to a vicious attack and I want to commend her bravery during this process, which I know has been incredibly difficult.

“I would urge any victims of sexual offences to get in touch with us. You will be listened to, believed, and we will do our best to get you the justice you deserve.”

RICH App Introduced to Prevent Research Misconduct and Protect Intellectual Property

Technology

News Desk

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26/02/2025

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RICH App Introduced to Prevent Research Misconduct and Protect Intellectual Property

A London-based deep tech startup has launched a cutting-edge solution designed to protect intellectual property in research and industry.

Each year, numerous cases of research misconduct remain unresolved. To tackle this growing issue, a London-based startup has developed Research Integrity Chain (RICH), the first scientific blockchain application dedicated to securing and monetising research intellectual property. This innovation addresses a key challenge in academic integrity.

According to the National Science Foundation’s Office of Inspector General and the Office of Research Integrity, an average of 280 cases of research misconduct were documented each year between 2020 and 2024. However, only around 87 cases were closed annually.

Arthur M. Michalek’s research estimates that institutions spend approximately $525,000 per research misconduct investigation. Using this figure, the 433 cases reported as closed by ORI and NSF over five years translate to an estimated annual institutional expenditure of $45 million on misconduct cases.

The financial burden extends even further. Estimates based on NSF data and additional sources suggest that total losses from research misconduct in the US could reach $29.0 billion by 2025. This includes losses caused by fabrication, plagiarism, and data manipulation, representing about 3% in direct losses and 7% in indirect losses from the $1 trillion research market.

Dmytro Shestakov, CEO and co-founder of RICH, says “We have a clear answer to this challenge. We prevent forgery and ensure integrity of researchers’ IP rights for every single piece of data they work with”. “The data is further tokenized and can be proved by immutable, traceable and verifiable research records.”

“Think of it as a researcher’s tool where everyone can view what’s written, but no one can remove or change earlier entries without everyone knowing or agreeing on,” adds Dr. Balaji Panchapakesan, Fulbright Research Scholar, Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Sloan Fellow in Leadership and Strategy at London Business School, Faculty Research Achievement Award winner at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Advising and Mentoring Award winner at University of Louisville, and National Science Foundation CAREER Award winner.

The next iteration of the RICH application will integrate seamlessly into existing workflows. “We have launched and right now providing research copyright protection to individual researchers and research teams” Dmytro emphasizes. “In another word, we offer an additional layer of security without disrupting established processes for the price of 2 cups of coffee and that’s just the beginning”.

RICH’s technical advantage lies in its application of blockchain technology to create what is essentially an immutable digital ledger for research. The platform tokenizes research data and creates verifiable timestamps for each step of the research process, from initial hypothesis to final publication. Their answer attends to four important research community needs:

1. Protecting unpublished intellectual property

2. Secure data authenticity verification

3. Safe collaboration in research

4. Prospect for research monetization

The timing couldn’t be more crucial. Against the backdrop of problems associated with research misconduct, there is a growing problem with the untraceable use of AI in critical areas of our life such as medicine, politics, elections, etc. While the unchecked use of AI in medicine is a huge problem of unknown magnitude whose consequences we have yet to explore, the processes involved in the cognitive-behavioural manipulation of people using major internet platforms and social media are already having obvious disastrous consequences.

In a recent letter, European affairs ministers want the European Commission to use its powers under the Digital Services Act to protect the integrity of European elections from foreign interference and manipulation of information. In their pledge, they cite growing threats of destructive foreign interference in elections by Russia and China, which threaten their stability and sovereignty.

The described phenomena need to be regulated by the EU AI Act: first regulation on artificial intelligence, The Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act and should formally ensure transparency and traceability of the described processes.

The RICH provides a relevant but technical ready-to-use solution for academic and any other institutions struggling with research integrity problems. The platform tackles the “perimeter problem” — the difficulty of safeguarding research at the pre-publication stage when information must be distributed but its usage cannot be regulated. What’s more, RICH gives to their users the necessary transparency at every stage with the ability to trace the lifecycle of content from its creation to official release, protecting intellectual property rights.

“RICH enables something previously impossible in academia – proving research authenticity and ownership in real-time,” said Balaji. “This could fundamentally change how researchers protect their work.”

With research showing that questionable research practices affect between 10% and 50% of researchers, RICH’s launch marks a significant step forward in protecting scholarly integrity in the digital age.

For a free trial visit: https://researchintegritychain.com/

Family pay tribute to girl who died following Manchester collision

Crime

Helen Greaney

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24/02/2025

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Family pay tribute to girl who died following Manchester collision

The family of a little girl who died following a collision in Manchester at the weekend, have paid tribute to her.

Louisa (Lulu) Palmisano (3) from Burnley, died following the road traffic collision.

Emergency services responded to reports of a collision involving a tram and a van in the city centre at around 10am on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

The van collided with the tram, which forced the van onto the pavement where it collided with Lulu (pictured) – a pedestrian. She was taken to hospital and passed away from her injuries.

The driver of the van fled the scene but officers have today (Monday) arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He remains in police custody.

Lulu’s parents, who were visiting Manchester for the weekend, said: “Louisa (Lulu) was the sweetest, kindest, and most generous little girl. She was full of creativity and joy, and she absolutely loved going to nursery every day.

“Her absence has left a devastating void in our family—she was our only child, our whole world. We were simply enjoying a happy family day out in Manchester when this unimaginable tragedy struck. In an instant, our lives were shattered beyond repair.

“The pain of losing her is unbearable, and we miss her more than words can ever express.”

Detective sergeant Andrew Page said: “The family are being supported by specialist officers and have requested that the public and press respect their privacy at this time.

“We have arrested a suspect and have brought him into custody.

“This is still an active investigation, and we are looking for anyone who has any information regarding the case to come forward to get in touch with us. Please contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting the log number 1086 of 22/02/25.

“Alternatively, details can be shared on our LiveChat function on our website www.gmp.police.uk or via the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Former Olympian joins the race to end homelessness in Greater Manchester

Community

Helen Greaney

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24/02/2025

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Former Olympian joins the race to end homelessness in Greater Manchester

An Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist is the latest star to throw their weight behind ending homelessness as the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity newest ambassador.

Manchester born and bred Diane Edwards (nee Modahl) aims to bring her passion for community and resilience to her new role to amplify the charity’s work of ending homelessness across the city region.

Co-founder of the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation (now Stride UK), the athlete wants to champion sport and bring it to the forefront of her role.

“Using sport more generally as a tool for us to drive our message is definitely going to be a big focus for me in the coming months and also bringing others on board that can help us get closer to answering that question,” she said.

“You don’t need to be a medal winning athlete, but by simply feeling a sense of belonging around a shared purpose can have a huge positive effect on people. Sport tells a story of resilience, triumph and overcoming adversity. The ability to feel that you’re connected to something, it has the power of being able to tell those stories.

“Sport can also be a powerful tool for fundraising. If you think of sport organisations like The Manchester United Foundation or City in the Community, and the many others across the region; you have a ready-made audience who love sport, and they understand the opportunity to break down those misconceptions of homelessness and raise vital funds.”

Diane’s journey with the charity started in its infancy. She helped form the foundations of its governance, ensuring the right structures were in place to support the mayor’s ambition to end rough sleeping. Now, as an ambassador, her focus shifts to putting a spotlight on the charity’s achievements and encouraging more people to support the cause.

“As an ambassador, my role is very much about shining a light on the great work the team are doing by promoting and reinforcing those key ambitions. Mostly it’s about helping the charity achieve their aims,” said Diane.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist Olympic medallist’s drive to support vulnerable communities stems from her upbringing, where church and sport played a crucial role in shaping her values.

“It was always a given. Where we can, we should naturally support others – that’s how we were raised. So, when I had the opportunity to help the charity, it was a natural thing for me to do.

“Homelessness affects all of us. You can’t unsee another human being suffering in the freezing cold and trying to understand what we can do to help is really driving me.

“There is a certain stereotype when it comes to homelessness and a misconception that it ‘won’t happen to someone like me’ but we are all just one street or one road away from it. It can happen through a multitude of reasons, from a relationship breakdown, loss of job, a divorce, it could be any number of reasons why.”

The charity is gearing up for its annual gala dinner, featuring a star-studded line up of guests and talent from Greater Manchester, including the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham.

Held at New Century, March 27, the gala is the charity’s headline fundraiser to support its flagship A Bed Every Night scheme.

Only a handful of tickets remain: https://www.gmmayorscharity.org.uk/events/gala-dinner-2025

The charity’s flagship ‘A Bed Every Night’ campaign has helped tackle homelessness across the region ever since its peak in 2017. Since 2020 it’s helped nearly 6,000 people, with 2,910 people supported in the last year alone. Since the launch of A Bed Every Night, it has helped reduce rough sleeping by 45% in the city-region.

How to avoid arachnids in UK peak season

Pets & Animals

News Desk

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24/02/2025

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How to avoid arachnids in UK peak season

The UK is in peak Spring spider season – and motorists have been warned to declutter their cars to prevent an unwanted arachnid infestation.

Many adult spiders enter a hibernation-like state over winter, taking shelter in dark outdoor spaces to ride-out the cold weather.

But when spring arrives and temperatures begin to increase, these spiders become much more active, emerging from their hiding places in search of food.

Spring spiders will also head inside to avoid the rain.

Graham Conway, managing director at vehicle leasing company Select Car Leasing, says homeowners will have probably noticed increased numbers of spiders in their homes in recent days – and the arachnids will be foraging in cars and vans, too.

He said: “There are around 650 different species of spider in the UK, with just a handful that are actually capable of delivering an unpleasant bite to a human.

“But despite that fact, around 21 per cent of Brits say they have a genuine phobia of spiders.

“If you’re likely to become dangerously distracted in your car upon spotting an eight-legged creature while driving, it’s wise to take steps to stop them entering your vehicle in the first place.

“The most obvious place to start is decluttering your vehicle’s interior, thereby removing any food sources for spiders. Pick up those crisp packets, bin the sandwich wrappers and vacuum the interior.

“Try not to give spiders a place to hide, either, which means removing any unnecessary items from the cabin. You should also clean your car’s air vents regularly as this is another spider hiding hotspot.”

Select Car Leasing says there are other ways to stop spiders from running rampant in vehicles. Here are their top five additional pieces of advice:

Make a scent spray

You can create your own scent spray using ingredients that are said to repel spiders. Vinegar, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil and cedarwood are all readily available. Fill a bottle with a mix of the scent and some water, then spray in the areas you want to keep spider free.

Check windows and boot seals

Perished rubber seals around windows and boots might be a potential vehicle entry point for spiders. Make sure your windows are fully rolled-up, too, as even the smallest gap is enough to invite spiders inside.

Lemons and oranges

Many spiders detest the smell of citrus fruit such as lemons, oranges or limes. Try rubbing some lemon or orange peel around your window and door frames and leave the peel in the car overnight.

Remove existing webs

Take away a spider’s opportunity to catch prey and feed and you might motivate them to move to a different location – i.e. one that’s not your car! Remove webs from roof racks, too.

Try not to panic

Spiders are almost universally completely harmless. If you encounter one while driving, stay calm and pull over if you need to. If a spider encounter leads to a complete head loss behind the wheel, you could end up with a prosecution for careless driving – which means a fine of up to £2,500, nine points on your licence and even worse if anyone is injured as a result.

Just Stop Oil protestors found guilty after airport disruption plans

News

Helen Greaney

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24/02/2025

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Just Stop Oil protestors found guilty after airport disruption plans

Just Stop Oil protestors who planned to glue themselves to the taxiway at Manchester Airport, have been found guilty of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.

Indigo Rumbelow, Leanorah Ward, Margaret Reid and Daniel Knorr were all found guilty following a trial at Minshull Crown Court, on Friday. Noah Crane was found not guilty.

On Monday, August 5, 2024, officers from Greater Manchester Police, supported by detectives from its Serious Crime Division arrested four people near Manchester Airport, and one man in Birmingham.

The four offenders were arrested as they walked along South Park Road in Gatley, as they made their way to Manchester Airport.

They were equipped with heavy duty bolt cutters, angle grinders, glue, sand, Just Stop Oil high visibility vests and a leaflet containing instructions to follow when interacting with police.

Ward was also found in possession of a handwritten note which detailed the motive of the group; to enter the airfield of Manchester Airport and to then contact the police to alert them of their activity.

They were planning to enter the airfield and stick themselves to the taxiway using the glue and sand, with one main goal; to disrupt airport activity and gain media attention. In Ward’s interview, she stated that she regretted that their attempts were unsuccessful due to being caught by the police.

Following their arrest, a search of a rental property they were staying at in Gatley was searched and officers recovered several items from the bin including a provisional driving license of Knorr and a camera harness.

Superintendent Helen Caldbeck said: “We have been working closely with Manchester Airport colleagues and police forces across the country, sharing intelligence, with the common goal to prevent these disruptive and targeted attacks on our airports.

“We have a duty of care of care to the public, and whilst we must always protect the right to protest, it’s crucial that we carefully balance that right against the right of the general public to go about their lives without being subject to unacceptable disruption.

“This group had gone to significant trouble and expense in the preparation of the intended action that morning. If they had gained access to the airfield, not only would they have placed themselves in extreme danger, but they would have caused untold disruption to travellers and holiday makers.

“Anyone who disrupts the safety and security of an airport can expect to be dealt with swiftly and robustly, and following a meticulous investigation, we welcome these verdicts today.”

Rad Taylor, director of Aerodrome Operations at Manchester Airport, said: “The safety and security of our passengers is always our number one concern. What these individuals were planning would not only have caused significant disruption for tens of thousands of passengers, but also a significant safety risk. The potential consequences of that do not bear thinking about.

“That is why it is pleasing to see the processes that are in place to detect and intercept plans of these nature worked to good effect. We will continue to work closely with the police and other partners to make sure public safety is protected at all times.”

Natalie Mackenzie, district crown prosecutor for CPS North West said: “This was a planned and targeted attack against one of the country’s busiest airports which could have caused significant disruption. Just stop oil protesters were stopped by police on their way to Manchester Airport.

“When they were searched, police found details of their plans to target the airport, banners, various tools and glue, which had they reached their destination, may have enabled them to glue themselves or others to the taxiways of Manchester Airport.

“Their plan displayed a clear disregard for members of the public using the airport at the height of summer.

“The right to protest is important but it must be balanced against the rights of other citizens to go about their daily business.”