Allegations against Britain’s fourth-biggest force cause £3.5m investigation to collapse
A £3.5 million inquiry into one of Britain’s most notorious crime gangs collapsed after multiple claims of police corruption, an investigation by The Times has revealed.
Officers from Greater Manchester police were accused of taking bribes from associates of Paul Massey, the underworld “Mr Big” who was murdered in Salford two years ago. The allegations emerged during Operation Holly, a five-year inquiry into money laundering, fraud and tax offences, which centred on a security company for which Massey, 55, was a consultant. Detectives believed that he was a “shadow director” for 21st Security Ltd and that it was used to launder funds and disguise the gang’s gains.
Greater Manchester, Britain’s fourth largest force, was facing serious questions last night after this newspaper exposed the corruption allegations andestablished that the force had failed to investigate them. This was a factor in a decision by prosecutors in June not to bring charges against Massey’s alleged associates, it is understood.
Massey, who was involved in racketeering, extortion and drugs, was shot five times with a sub-machinegun in the driveway of his home in July 2015. Police believe that his murder was the result of a feud with a rival gang, which also led to a seven-year-old boy and his mother being shot in the legs on their doorstep three months later.
Massey and his alleged associates had been under investigation since 2011 through Operation Holly, which was run by Titan, the northwest regional organised crime unit, a collaboration between six forces. The inquiry had 55 suspects, six of whom were arrested, including Massey. One of the suspects made extensive admissions about money laundering in a police interview. Officers believed that they had uncovered evidence related to fraudulent trading, fraud by false representation, false accounting and cheating the revenue. In June this year, after reviewing a file of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there was no realistic prospect of conviction and all suspects were told that they would face no further action. Prosecutors told police that the corruption allegations needed to be fully investigated before a charging decision was made as they could undermine the case. Under the rules of disclosure, anything that undermines or assists the defence must be handed over. Among the issues of concern were a mysterious phone call to 21st Security 15 minutes before search warrants were executed in 2011, and claims that documents were secreted away as a result.
There were also allegations from Massey’s associates that “brown envelopes” had been passed to officers and that the details of bribes would be laid bare in court if charges resulted. Employees of a construction company that hired 21st Security also alleged misconduct by officers from the force. Operation Holly’s warrants and production orders were sought at Preston crown court because of private police fears that Massey’s gang had infiltrated the Manchester court offices.
A reviewing prosecutor agreed that allegations that police recommended one company to hire 21st Security could undermine the prosecution case so should be investigated to test their credibility. There were also claims that senior officers would meet Massey at a pub in Salford.
Most police corruption is investigated internally by the force in question and each of the Operation Holly allegations was referred to Greater Manchester’s professional standards branch. Although the force was given “strong advice” by prosecutors that they would need to be investigated before any charging decision could be made, this did not happen.
It also emerged during the operation that money from 21st Security was paid to Massey’s associates while they were in prison for murder and blackmail, and the company was legitimately paid more than £12 million by blue-chip companies that employed its security workers on their construction sites.
The CPS said it gave advice to police in relation to the investigation. “This advice covered, among other things, disclosure issues which hindered our ability to authorise charges, however, the CPS does not have the power to direct police forces to carry out investigations,” a spokesman said. Sources said the corruption allegations were a factor in the decision but that Massey’s death was also considered significant because suspects would have been able to blame him for crimes.
The force said that it had begun a “conduct inquiry” into the claims since the CPS decision in June. It refused to answer questions about why the matters were not investigated earlier. A spokesman said: “Following a complex investigation into the activities of an organised crime group from Salford by Titan northwest regional organised crime unit, a comprehensive file was submitted to [the] CPS, who advised that there was no realistic prospect of a successful prosecution. As a result, a decision was made that no further action would be taken in this case and all interested parties were notified. As with any major investigation where a decision is made to take no further action, a review will take place with the CPS to see if any lessons can be learnt.
“Following the decision not to prosecute, inquiries are also being carried out by [the force’s] professional standards branch to ascertain if there are any conduct issues with officers.”
There are a number of people publicly linked to 21st Security, including former directors, and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing in relation to them. Operation Holly investigated the company’s activities between September 2008 and December 2011. A source close to 21st Security said the company was legitimate and that the investigation was a vendetta by police.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, who has responsibility for policing, declined to comment.
Police raid home of murdered Salford 'Mr Big' Paul Massey and find ...
23 Jan 2017 - Grieving widow of Paul Massey pays tribute to Salford 'peacemaker' a year on from hismurder. The father-of-five was shot five times and died from a gunshot wound to his chest. Last week's raid was carried out by officers from Operation Gulf, which was set up to tackle Salford's notorious criminal gangs.
Missing: mboss youtubenchester
Net closes in on Paul Massey's killer as police prepare file to bring ...
30 Jan 2017 - Mr Massey, who previously stood to be Salford's elected mayor in 2012, was shot by a lone gunman as he pulled up outside his home on Manchester ... His death has been linked to a gangland feud involving rival factions of a gang known as Salford's A-Team, although Mr Massey was not thought to be part ...
Missing: mboss youtubenchester
British gang members arrested in Spain 'were planning murder of rival ...
21 Feb 2016 - ... police in Spain found when they raided the apartments of a British 'hit squad' who they believe were out to avenge the murder of Salford crime lord Paul Massey. The group of British gangmembers arrested in Marbella were visiting the Spanish city in order to carry out the revenge murder of a rival boss, ...
Missing: youtubenchester
Gangster who ordered Paul Massey's murder believed to be holed up ...
7 Nov 2015 - A gangster who ordered the murder of Salford's “Mr Big” Paul Massey is said to be holed up on the Costa del Sol. He is thought to have fled the Manchester turf war and hooked up with a drugsgang in southern Spain. Detectives are believed to know his name – and suspect he put out the contract on ...
Missing: mboss youtubenchester
El bent on revenge: Costa Brits held over rival gang boss murder, say ...
21 Feb 2016 - THIS is the haul seized from a gang said to have flown to Spain to kill a rival boss
