3 individuals have actually been detained as part of an investigation into monetary criminal offenses including the University of Greater Manchester, consisting of accusations of fraud, bribery and money laundering.Greater Manchester police(GMP)stated the force was “checking out evidence “of more than ₤ 1m in deceptive activity including 60 transactions and more than a million e-mails, along with the Crown Prosecution Service’s major financial criminal activity unit.GMP said it had performed warrants at 2 addresses in Bolton and 3 others in Lancashire, Humberside and West Yorkshire on Wednesday early morning, and detained 2 men in their 60s and a female in her 50s. All 3 were detained on suspicion of cash laundering, while both men were also apprehended on suspicion of fraud and one man on suspicion of bribery.The arrests are the most recent developments in the controversy surrounding the University of Greater Manchester– formerly known as the University of Bolton– given that a series of examinations by the Mill newspaper starting in February 2025. The Mill reported the alleged offenses took place in between 2014 and 2025, with university funds being used for personal purposes including the purchase of a heated canine kennel.Rick Jackson, the GMP’s assistant chief constable for crime, intelligence and forensics, said:”This is a key development
in this significant and complex investigation which is seeing our detectives perform painstaking work. This is a lengthy operation and we are following every line of inquiry to ensure we are in a position to put together the strongest possible evidence for a possible prosecution. “The investigation has ended up being a lot more intricate photo given that the accusations were very first brought to our attention a year earlier. We are guaranteeing that we have targeted
stages focusing on each of the separate aspects so that each strand is advanced methodically and thoroughly.” The action today associates with one essential hair of that examination, and we are working carefully with the CPS with a view to offering an initial file of proof for their suggestions before the
end of the year.”Phil Brickell, the MP for Bolton West, stated:”These are major developments. Bolton requires a strong university with excellent governance working in the town’s benefits, which can command the confidence of my constituents, of trainees and of staff. I’ll continue to liaise with the university, the Office for Students and the Department for Education as the examination continues.”The university is a major employer in Bolton and its almost 11,000 students bring substantial financial advantages to the Greater Manchester area.”We do not forget the fact that at the heart of this
are trainees whose university experience has been impacted by money that needs to’ve been invested in their education instead supposedly being utilized for personal gain,”Jackson said.GMP validated it was investigating”accusations of financial irregularities “including the university in May in 2015. In July, detectives from the force’s significant incident group carried out searches of seven homes in Greater Manchester and in the south of England
to take evidence.Last December, the Office for Trainees formally announced it was examining the university’s management and governance.The University of Greater Manchester was known as the University of Bolton up until the OfS authorized its ask for the name change in December 2025.