Three held in £1m university fraud investigation
GoogleThree people have been arrested in raids at five properties as part of an investigation into £1m of alleged financial irregularities at the University of Greater Manchester.
Two men aged in their 60s and a woman in her 50s were held on suspicion of money laundering. The men were also questioned on suspicion of fraud and one on suspicion of bribery.
It followed raids on two properties in Bolton, one in Lancashire, one in Humberside and one in West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester Police said.
The force said it was "exploring evidence indicating over £1m worth of fraudulent activity" including 60 transactions and more than a million emails.
It comes after seven properties were raided in Greater Manchester and the south of England in July 2025.
The investigation began earlier that year following reports by the Manchester Mill on allegations of financial misconduct, racism and bullying at the university.
The university, which has about 900 staff, was formerly known as the University of Bolton until a name change was announced in December 2024.
About 11,000 students attend the university.
'Complex picture'
Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said: "This is a key development in this significant and complex investigation which is seeing our detectives conduct painstaking work.
"It 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."
He added that the latest arrests relate to "one key strand of that investigation" and officers were working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service with a view to providing an initial file of evidence before the end of the year.
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