News
Greater Manchester Police return stolen motorcycle to German owner after it was found in Salford
After a labour of love by GMP officers, it was no longer ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ but instead ‘Willkommen zurück’ for this happy rider
Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit (SVEU) went above and beyond to ensure a stolen motorcycle was returned to its owner.
The owner of the motorbike is a German national who while visiting Edinburgh five years ago, had it stolen – much to his heartbreak.
At the end of the trip he had to return across the channel empty handed and out of pocket.
Then, in September 2023 the vehicle popped up when GMP officers responded to a report of males making off from a scene after failing to stop on Bolton Road, Salford, in the early afternoon of the 21st.
The bike sustained minor damage after colliding with a tree.
It was recovered but with no physical ID or check on the Police National Computer (PNC), as well as false details, the investigative instincts of the vehicle examiners began tingling.
After extensive enquiries the bike was soon identified as stolen, and with assistance from specialist officers in Europe, the bike was traced to being made in Germany.
GMP contacted Interpol, who contacted German authorities, and later were able to speak to the victim who provided the necessary details – which prevented it from being crushed.
After sheer perseverance, the result showcases the vital work carried out by experienced employees who have a vast amount of knowledge of all makes and models of vehicles.
On reuniting the motorcycle and revealing its true identity Vehicle Examiner Dave Murphy, from GMP’s Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit, said: “This was pure determination and a team effort to find the rightful owner.
“With the UK out of the European Union now direct access to systems from forces in other countries has meant it has been harder for us to track and trace, but with other inventive ways of working and the help of our recovery agents, Mansfield, we were able to return the motorbike to the rider.
“Being a rider myself it is a tight-knit and supportive community which means we have taken great pleasure in giving this story a happy ending as we didn’t want it to be crushed and unclaimed despite being stolen and then used in crime.
“Our work as vehicles examiners often goes unnoticed, but we know our skills, knowledge and expertise is crucial in finding evidence to link vehicles to crime but also back to victims.
“It was a nice surprise for all to receive and give the call to the victim after he thought he would never see his bike again and moving on with his life years ago.”
The Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit is part of the Specialist Operations, Roads Policing Unit based in Eccles, and is home to a number of police staff who as a unit have over 140 years’ combined experience in the motor industry.
Stolen cars and finding those responsible remains a GMP force priority, with operations running across all districts in Greater Manchester.
Anyone with information about car thefts or suspicious activity taking place at premises, can report it via GMP’s LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk.
We’re pleased to announce that Proper Manchester is rebranding as Finest City Guides.
As part of this change, the Proper Manchester brand, including its social media channels, will transition to the Finest City Guides name.
This is a rebrand of the existing platform rather than a new or unrelated business. The same team behind Proper Manchester will continue to operate Finest City Guides as we develop the platform under its new identity.
Previous name: Proper Manchester
New name: Finest City Guides
Our social channels and other brand assets will be updated to reflect the Finest City Guides name as part of this transition.
More from Finest City Guides coming soon.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
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