Greater Manchester Police has arrested three individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into financial crimes at the University of Greater Manchester. The arrests include two men in their 60s and a woman in her 50s, all taken into custody on suspicion of money laundering. The two men face additional fraud charges, while one man is also suspected of bribery.
Police executed warrants at multiple addresses across northwest England on Wednesday morning as part of the operation. Investigators are examining evidence related to more than £1 million in potentially fraudulent transactions spanning 60 separate transactions and involving more than a million emails. The Greater Manchester Police is working alongside the Crown Prosecution Service’s serious economic crime unit in the investigation.
The current arrests represent a significant development in an inquiry that began following reports by the Mill newspaper starting in February 2025. The alleged offenses occurred between 2014 and 2025, with investigations suggesting university funds were diverted for private purposes. Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson stated that the investigation remains complex and lengthy, with detectives conducting thorough work across multiple strands of inquiry. He indicated police aim to provide initial evidence to prosecutors before the end of the year.
The investigation was formally confirmed by Greater Manchester Police in May of last year, with additional property searches conducted in July. Last December, the Office for Students initiated its own investigation into the university’s management and governance. The institution, which rebranded from the University of Bolton to the University of Greater Manchester in December 2025, serves approximately 11,000 students and represents a major employer in the Bolton area.
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