Rochdale, a Lancashire town renowned as a cradle of the Industrial Revolution and birthplace of the cooperative movement, is now struggling with a surge in violent crime, primarily driven by machete-wielding drug gangs. The escalating conflict between organized crime groups (OCGs) has transformed parts of the community into what some describe as a "Mafia TV series."

Escalating Violence and Retaliatory Attacks

A recent court case highlighted the brutal nature of these feuds. In May 2021, two masked men attacked Abbas Mushtaq in his home, slashing him with a sword and a machete. His mother intervened, sustaining a wrist injury, but managed to get the weapon stuck in a wall. Mushtaq suffered life-altering injuries requiring ten days of hospitalization. One attacker, Owais Ali, was later jailed for six years. The incident was part of a tit-for-tat warfare between rival OCGs.

Later that year, in October 2021, Mushtaq himself, affiliated with the Smiler OCG, was targeted in a retaliatory assault. The getaway driver from the earlier attack, Mohammed Hassan Alam, was rammed and flipped in his vehicle, then surrounded by an armed gang wielding machetes, axes, baseball bats, and chainsaws. He was doused with corrosive ammonia. In 2023, Mushtaq was sentenced to 16 years for offenses including conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and drug dealing. Three others involved in the attack on him, Mohammed Hassan Alam, Asad Ali, and Sonia Ali, were recently jailed.

Dismantling Dominant Crime Groups

Detectives have been working to combat the pervasive influence of OCGs in Rochdale. One prominent group, the Adam OCG, previously described as "pretty much ruling Rochdale," has been dismantled. The group responsible for the attack on Mushtaq has also been taken down, as has another OCG linked to Mushtaq.

A 2023 BBC documentary quoted a detective noting a significant increase in violence over the previous five years, including acid and machete attacks, with nearly all extreme violence linked to gangs.

Community Impact and Weapon Trends

Residents on streets like Mellor Street, where Mushtaq was attacked, live with a palpable sense of fear. A local nurse described the atmosphere as "like a Mafia TV series, but it's real," and expressed concern about raising children in the town. Rochdale, one of the most deprived towns in England, has seen a shift in gang tactics, with police suspecting a move from firearms to blades. Detective Inspector Sam Taylor of Rochdale CID noted that while firearms seizures remain significant, other weapons are being used more frequently. "The machete now seems to be the weapon of choice for these gangsters," commented a former British Army soldier and local resident. "They think they're untouchable and chase around in cars and motorbikes."

To address the severity of knife crime, "bleed kits" containing first-aid supplies for stab victims have been deployed around Rochdale. The provision of these kits acknowledges the critical time between injury and ambulance arrival, and the rapid fatality possible from severe bleeding.

Dashcam footage captured on Sheriff Street in daylight shows a car being swarmed by men on motorbikes who slash at the vehicle with a machete. The driver eventually escaped. Residents often refrain from reporting such incidents due to fear of retaliation, which is how gangs maintain their grip on the community.

A Brutal Attack and Its Aftermath

Another severe incident occurred in October 2017 on the Newbold Estate when tree surgeon Cameron Brooksbank intervened in an argument. He was subsequently attacked by around 20 men armed with machetes, knives, and hammers. Mohammed Awais Sajid, son of the Adam OCG boss, attacked Brooksbank with an axe, severing his left hand almost completely. Brooksbank, who survived the attack, later suffered from depression and died six years later from a mix of prescription drugs and cocaine. A coroner concluded he did not intend to take his own life. Sajid was jailed for 18 years for wounding with intent, and Habibur Rahman, identified as the instigator, received four and a half years for conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

Ongoing Efforts and Future Concerns

Despite successes in dismantling OCGs, police remain vigilant. DI Taylor acknowledged the potential for a vacuum to be filled by new criminal groups and stressed the need to maintain pressure and proactively pursue emerging threats. "The people of Rochdale don't deserve to see gang-related violence on the streets – it's just something that we are never going to tolerate," he stated.