Salford has been rocked by a string of police investigations this week, with the city’s mayor calling for calm. A number of ‘high-profile’ incidents have made headlines in the city in recent days, which ‘will have caused concern and anxiety’, Paul Dennett said.
His plea for Salfordians to stick together came after a gun and ammo were found at a recently-closed nursery; a murder investigation was launched at a property in Lower Broughton; an ‘HMO’ was twice trashed in Kersal; roadside banners opposing ‘migrant HMOs’ were put up; and reports of people being targeted by yobs hurling fireworks amid anti-social behaviour criminality in Ordsall.
“Our city motto is ‘the welfare of the people is the highest law’,” Mr Dennett wrote. “Any attempt to divide people, spread hatred or target individuals because of who they are is completely unacceptable. The spirit of Salford is what unites us.”
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On Thursday (October 8), Greater Manchester Police said two men had been arrested after police stormed the building of a recently-closed nursery and uncovered a gun and ammunition.
Officers ‘acting on information’ raided the building of the former Mini Fingers Day Nursery on Liverpool Road in Irlam on Wednesday evening (October 7). The nursery was ordered to shut down earlier this week due after the discovery of a rat infestation, unrelated to the police probe.
The gun found inside the building in Irlam(Image: GMP)
Once inside police carried out a search and uncovered a gun and a ‘substantial quantity’ of ammunition. Two men – one in his 50s, the other in his 30s – were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, namely cocaine and cannabis.
A large number of police vehicles, including a Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) van and Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) vans, were stationed outside the building throughout the day. A police vehicle labelled ‘Animals in Transit’ also briefly attended the scene.
Police said they ‘potentially prevented a serious incident’ by seizing gun.
Police outside the Mini Fingers Day Nursery in Irlam(Image: Manchester Evening News)
That incident came after a murder investigation was launched following the death of a man at a property on Great Clowes Street, Lower Broughton. The Manchester Evening News understands the building at the centre of the murder probe is a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).
Cops were called following the death of a man in his 40s on Tuesday (October 7). GMP said the man was found unresponsive inside the building. He sadly died despite the best efforts of emergency services. Five men – aged between 24 and 35 – were arrested on suspicion of murder.
GMP later confirmed the investigation is not being linked to reports of criminal damage at an HMO on nearby Kingsley Avenue, Kersal. Police have been called out to the property at least twice after it was trashed.
Police tape off a HMO at the centre of a murder investigation in Salford(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Officers are investigating reports of criminal damage at the property. Images from the scene showed the front downstairs windows completely shattered, with a wooden board in place in one section. The front door had been removed and appeared to have been left resting through one of the broken downstairs windows.
Overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, it was targeted again. The Manchester Evening News understands the windows and doors were boarded up during the day on Wednesday, but by late that evening into the early hours, the boards were smashed again. It is not known whether the damage was caused by youths or someone with a political motive.
A house on Kingsley Avenue, Salford, after being targeted by vandals(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Councillor Ivan Voronov, Salford’s Reform leader, said residents in the area ‘must feel safe in their own neighbourhoods’ in light of a spate of recent incidents involving houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).
A video of another property, reportedly nearby, was yesterday posted on Facebook. ‘No HMO’ was scrawled on the door. The exact location of the house is not yet known and GMP are working to determine if the clip is recent.
How the HMO in Kersal looked on Thursday(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The Kersal incident came against the backdrop of a heated political discourse around immigration and public anger over the use of HMOs. Speculation on social media claimed the Kingsley Avenue house was being used as a ‘migrant HMO’.
Earlier this week, a banner with the words ‘say no to migrant HMOs’ was raised on the roadside in Salford. The message was eventually taken down by the council, which condemned the action.
The town hall said it had also acted to ‘take steps’ to remove them over ‘the potential for inciteful behaviour’. The banners appeared in areas in Cadishead and Lower Irlam. They were strung up between lampposts, under bridges and billboards and attached to fences.
Salford council says it will take down roadside banners that oppose ‘migrant HMOs'(Image: UGC/FACEBOOK)
The council hall said in a statement: “This matter goes beyond the putting up of union flags, which as a tolerant city have remained in place.
“To be clear, we do not support banners on roadsides that cause health and safety risks and are divisive to communities.”
Earlier this week, worried residents made a string of 999 calls amid reports of anti-social behaviour in Ordsall. GMP said it received multiple calls regarding anti-social behaviour and the misuse of fireworks at Ordsall Park.
Meanwhile, the force issued a 48-hour dispersal order throughout Ordsall at the weekend following reports of ‘a large group of youths engaging in anti-social behaviour’ last Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Fireworks were reportedly hurled at members of the public at the time.
‘The spirit of Salford is what unites us’
Mr Dennett’s full statement read: “There have been a number of different high-profile incidents in Salford this week that will have caused concern and anxiety in our communities.
Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
“Recent incidents have been reported in the media which are currently being investigated by police. There is no place for hate, violence, intimidation or discrimination in our city, and we are working closely with our partners, including Greater Manchester Police, to respond to these incidents, support those impacted and help ensure everyone feels safe and welcome in Salford.
“GMP will have extra officers in the area – this is normal when an investigation is being carried out and also for reassurance for our communities.
A video showed a property – reportedly in Salford and near another HMO vandalised – badly damaged. Police are working to understand if it is a recent incident.(Image: GMP)
“Our communities are strongest when people from all backgrounds, faiths and cultures are treated with dignity, respect and kindness.
“Our city motto is ‘the welfare of the people is the highest law’ and any attempt to divide people, spread hatred or target individuals because of who they are is completely unacceptable.
“The spirit of Salford is what unites us.”