A “fraud epidemic” has fuelled crimes ranging from stabbings to drugs and people trafficking that have hit the streets of Bolton, an MP says. This comes after Bolton West MP Phil Brickell spoke in favour of the Crime and Policing Bill earlier this week, which he says will deliver tougher sentences and more action. Mr Brickell said that knife crime had been on the rise in Bolton and other towns for several years and spoke about high profile cases to have afflicted the borough in recent times.
He said: “To this end, I am pleased to see that the Bill introduces tougher sentencing for repeat offenders and strengthens the police’s powers to seize dangerous weapons before they are used to cause harm.” Former financial crime investigator Mr Brickell has previously spoken exclusively to The Bolton News about his belief “dark money” and webs of corruption have fuelled crime in the borough. Criminal cash has been seized across Greater Manchester in recent months and years (Image: GMP) At the time he said that fraud accounted for around 40 per cent of all crime, which reverberated in the violence seen on the street of Bolton.
Drawing on this theme in the House of Commons debate Mr Brickell said that tackling “deep pocketed crooks” was key to reducing crime off all kinds at street level. Mr Brickell said: “A number of the crimes, for example drug dealing and people trafficking, are enabled by economic crimes like money laundering and fraud. “We have seen a fraud epi.
