Inquiry into one of the UK’s most notorious gangs collapses amid cop corruption claims
Greater Manchester cops were accused of taking bribes from pals of crime boss 'Mr Big' Paul Massey who was murdered in Salford in 2015
AN inquiry into one of the country’s most notorious crime gangs collapsed after police corruption claims.
Greater Manchester cops were accused of taking bribes from pals of crime boss “Mr Big” Paul Massey, murdered in Salford in 2015.
The claims emerged during the £3.5million Operation Holly probe into money laundering and fraud, The Times says.
Chiefs at the CPS decided not to prosecute Mr Massey’s alleged associates in June because there was no realistic prospect of convictions.
The inquiry had 55 suspects, of which six were arrested.
One suspect is understood to have made money laundering admissions to cops.
MOST READ IN NEWS
One issue highlighted was a phone call to a business linked to Mr Massey before search warrants were issued. He was shot five times with a submachine gun.
Mr Massey’s associates also allege that “brown envelopes” were passed to officers.
The misconduct allegations were referred to Greater Manchester Police’s professional standards branch but they did not act despite “strong advice” to do so by prosecutors.