Greater Manchester Police have arrested two men in their 60s and a woman in her 50s in connection with financial crimes at the University of Greater Manchester. All three were arrested on suspicion of money laundering, with both men also suspected of fraud and one man additionally suspected of bribery. Police executed warrants at five addresses across Bolton, Lancashire, Humberside, and West Yorkshire on Wednesday morning.
The investigation involves allegations of more than £1 million in fraudulent activity spanning 60 transactions and over one million emails, conducted jointly with the Crown Prosecution Service’s serious economic crime unit. According to reporting by the Mill newspaper, the alleged offenses occurred between 2014 and 2025 and involved the misuse of university funds for private purposes. Rick Jackson, GMP’s assistant chief constable for crime, intelligence and forensics, characterized the investigation as significant and complex, noting that authorities are pursuing multiple strands of inquiry methodically.
The arrests represent a major development in ongoing scrutiny of the university’s governance. The Office for Students formally commenced its own investigation into the institution’s management and governance last December. Police confirmed they had begun investigating allegations of financial irregularities in May of the previous year and conducted earlier property searches in July. Jackson emphasized that the investigation aims to compile the strongest possible evidence for potential prosecution, with officials targeting an initial evidence file for Crown Prosecution Service advice by the end of the year.
Phil Brickell, the MP for Bolton West, characterized the developments as serious and stressed the need for the university to maintain strong governance and public confidence. The University of Greater Manchester, formerly known as the University of Bolton until its name change was approved in December 2025, employs a significant portion of the local workforce and serves nearly 11,000 students who contribute substantially to the regional economy.
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