Police raid Lancashire home as part of probe into £1m fraud at University

A property in Lancashire has been raided by police in connection with a £1million fraud investigation at the University of Greater Manchester.

Two men in their 60s and a woman in their 50s have been arrested on suspicion of money laundering. The men have also been arrested on suspicion of fraud and one of the men is additionally being held on suspicion of bribery.

The arrests follow early morning raids today at five properties across Lancashire, Bolton, Humberside and West Yorkshire.

Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team opened a fraud and bribery investigation a year ago after they received allegations from The Mill publication and a subsequent report from Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) commissioned by the university’s Fraud Response Panel.

Detectives have been making painstaking enquiries, including working through the PWC report to independently compile evidence that is impartial, robust and would stand up to scrutiny in any future court proceedings.

Detectibes are exploring evidence indicating more than £1million’s worth of fraudulent activity. As part of the police enquiries, detectives are probing around 60 transactions and investigating more than a million emails.

The Major Incident Team is working closely with the Crown Prosecution (CPS)’s Serious Economic Crime team.

Detectives said they are continuing to engage with the Office for Students and are working with the University of GM to encourage any staff or representatives to provide any information that may assist with our enquiries.

Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson, our lead for crime, intelligence and forensics, said: “This is a key development in this significant and complex investigation which is seeing our detectives conduct painstaking work. This is a lengthy operation, and we are following every line of enquiry to ensure we are in a position to compile the strongest possible evidence for a potential prosecution.

“The investigation has become an even more complex picture since the allegations were first brought to our attention a year ago. We are ensuring that we have targeted phases focussing on each of the separate elements so that each strand is progressed methodically and thoroughly.

“The action today relates to one key strand of that investigation, and we are working closely with the CPS with a view to providing an initial file of evidence for their advice before the end of the year.

“We don’t lose sight of the fact that at the heart of this are students whose university experience has been impacted by money that should’ve been invested in their education instead allegedly being used for personal gain.

“We are continuing to engage with all relevant parties so that all necessary action can be taken in relation to any suspected criminality and to support those at the University potentially impacted by this case.”