Smashing the organised crime gangs: How relentless policing is getting results
THE chilling reality of organised crime and drugs gangs operating across Rochdale was laid bare in often harrowing detail.
Over three nights, BBC crime documentary series The Detectives gave a graphic insight into the lengths OCGS will go to peddle their evil trade and maintain a violent grip over their ‘turf’ - at the expense of vulnerable addicts, complete innocents and even children duped and lured in with false promises.
The cameras followed the valiant and ultimately successful work of a specialised Greater Manchester Police team to bring down ‘The Adam’ gang, operating on Rochdale’s Newbold estate.
Tree surgeon Cameron Brooksbank, then aged just 18 and working nearby, stepped in to diffuse a minor road rage incident, but was set upon later by a mob of 20 men, one armed with an axe.
Cameron, who sadly passed away earlier this year aged 24, was struck by the axe in the armpit, and then on his wrist as he desperately tried to shield his head from another blow.
His severed hand was partially reattached, but Cameron required a further five surgeries.
His attacker Mohammed Awais Sajid, also known as ‘Skinny’, went on to be jailed for 18 years.
He was summoned to the scene by Habibur Rahman, who was later jailed for four-and-a-half years after punching another of the tree surgeons working nearby while wearing a knuckleduster.
A raft of other jail sentences followed, with the TV series following the painstaking police investigation, the court cases and the fallout from the entire ordeal.
The terrible attack on Cameron, however, happened back in October 2017 - more than six years ago now.
Senior Greater Manchester Police detectives say they are under no illusions over the continuing scale of organised crime in the city region, but have given the Observer an insight into the vast amount of work and increasing resources being pumped in to smash the gangs.
A so-called ‘county line’ is a gang involved in importing drugs into one or more areas using a dedicated line of communication, a mobile phone of social media.
GMP’S county lines team consists of 25 detectives, police constables and civilian staff working across a range of disciplines including intelligence, digital forensics, research and operational support.
Now at full strength after its inception just over a year ago, figures show that up to March of this year, the team brought down 85 gangs, with a further 111 smashed since then, almost 200 so far this year.
Detectives have secured 194 arrests and 142 criminal charges, with 27 people so far convicted receiving collective sentences of 95 years in prison. Arrest and charge rates are up, as are conviction rates and weapons and drugs seizures.
During investigations, more than £300,000 in cash, over 20kg in drugs, 24 vehicles and 43 weapons including knives and firearms have been seized.
GMP have also revealed that crucially, 72 children and vulnerable people have been referred to safeguarding, many the victim of so-called ‘cuckooing’. Programme Challenger is GMP’S response to tackling serious and organised crime across Greater Manchester by focusing on seven priority areas, including county line gangs and modern slavery. The force says its response is currently bigger than ever.
“I truly believe GMP has one of the best organised crime responses in the UK,” said Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, the force’s lead for serious and organised crime discussing OCGS and drug gangs.
“We are continually closing drug lines, removing dangerous individuals and substances from communities, and ensuring victims get the support and justice they deserve.
“We’re under no illusion of the scale of organised crime, but I want to provide the public with the reassurance that we have the resources, skills and teams dedicated to ensuring those within every part of chain are taken off the streets as quickly as possible.”
Speaking off the back of The Detectives, Det Supt Harrop added: “Working in this area, investigations can be incredibly long and complex, as it takes a lot of intelligence collection, plus covert and overt work, to get us to the stages where we can disrupt activity.
“Because police officers aren’t executing warrants and making arrests immediately, doesn’t mean action isn’t being taken or the information we are given isn’t being used. In fact, the results across the serious and organised crime portfolio speak for themselves.
“Arrests, charges, and convictions are up. Disruptions are up. Weapons, such as firearms, and Class A drug seizures are up. Asset recovery is up. And this continues to be built on each year.
“Approximately 80 per cent of the county lines’ team cases, for example, brought to the Crown Prosecution Service don’t go to a crown court trial suspects enter guilty pleas on their first appearance due to the overwhelming evidence presented. This shows the success of our methods and strength of the evidence; criminals have no possible line of defence.
“We are continually becoming more sophisticated in our investigation methods.
“Historically, drugs were run by criminals who were using burner phones, and this theme is still seen regularly. However now, with the continuous rise of social media, it’s very common for us to see people selling drugs online or using the platforms to recruit children and adults into working for them.”
The evil tactic employed by gangs who exploit vulnerable people and children to run or store drugs for them is well-known.
GMP’S modern slavery team has grown in size and workload over the past couple of years.
“Where prevention is sadly too late, this is where GMP’S complex safeguarding teams or the modern slavery team will become involved,” said Det Supt Harrop.
“Our district complex safeguarding hubs deal with the specialist support of the children we discover are being exploited, as they have the professional skills and network to best support children and vulnerable adults.
“All of the safeguarding work done is rooted in supporting the vulnerable to break the cycle and not become repeat victims.
“What many victims of organised criminality don’t realise is that they have actually been exploited and are victims of modern slavery.
“That can be a scary thought and a term they don’t fully understand or associate with what has happened to them.
“The modern slavery team has grown over the past couple of years with the support and funding of the deputy mayor.
“Because of this they have been able to successfully support higher numbers of victims with the likes of accessing safe accommodation or ‘go bags’ of essentials needed to escape their situation, as well as provide specialist support via the longterm partnership with the charity Justice and Care.
“The team also now have a focus on proactive investigations as well as supporting districts and partners with training of staff around the signs of exploitation.
“It’s important that preconceived ideas of a ‘typical victim’ do not guide whether you believe someone is being exploited.
“Exploitation into organised crime can happen to anyone, and is usually driven by who children become friends with, a desire to fit in or have nice things, not necessarily their background or other demographic factors.”
The force’s work in the field was endorsed by the Government’s Anti-slavery Commissioner as a model of best practice.
Another specialist team is the economic crime unit, dealing with asset recovery, confiscation and money laundering investigations.
“Their goal is not just to seize and confiscate cash found on warrants and people, but to also forfeit funds from bank accounts and other assets,” said Det Supt Harrop.
In the last financial year, figures show GMP have recovered more than £15 million in criminal finance, a large proportion of which has since been returned directly to victims or invested into community initiatives.
Kate Green, the former MP who is now Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor for policing, crime and criminal justice, said organised crime and its many facets is not unique to Greater Manchester.
“But what is different here is how we’re taking such a proactive partnership approach to dealing with this, with a clear focus on prevention from an early age. Forces from up and down the country are learning from our successful Challenger model and implementing it in their own areas.
“We are committed to disrupting this and bringing people to justice with the long jail sentences we’re securing and I hope people are reassured by the dedicated team we have working on this and the clear results we are achieving.
“Together, with people educating themselves on the signs of exploitation, our work with young people on raising awareness of signs and support, alongside our dedicated teams with their tenacious disruption approach, we can bring down organised crime gangs.”
Spotting the signs of cuckooing - a term used to describe the home of vulnerable adults being used as a base for dealing drugs:
● Not seeing the person who lives there, and a clear change in behaviour and routine.
● Increase in visitors or cars to a house or flat at unsociable hours.
● Signs of drug use such as strange smells coming from the property.
● Windows covered or curtains closed all the time.
● People talking on phones outside the address.
● Signs of child criminal exploitation.
● Unexplained gifts, money and new expensive clothes or accessories.
● Increased missing from home episodes.
● New friendship groups.
● Receiving excessive calls or messages from ‘new friends.
● Carrying weapons and may have a few mobile phones.
● Secretive or withdrawn from family and/or friends.
● Getting picked up or dropped off by unknown people.