Three individuals have been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities totaling over £1 million at the University of Greater Manchester. The arrests were made on suspicion of money laundering, with two men also facing questions about fraud and one about bribery.
Properties were searched in Bolton, Humberside, West Yorkshire, and Lancashire as part of the operation by Greater Manchester Police. The probe began last year following allegations of racism, financial misconduct, and bullying, which were initially investigated by the online newspaper The Mill. Subsequently, a report from accounting firm Price Waterhouse Cooper, commissioned by the university's fraud response panel, was handed over to the police.
This marks a significant development, as previous police activity in July 2025 involved raiding seven homes to seize evidence, but no arrests had been made until now. The Office for Students, England's higher education regulator, has also been reviewing the claims. The University of Greater Manchester, which has approximately 11,000 students and 900 staff, was known as the University of Bolton until a name change announced in December 2024.
Assistant Constable Rick Jackson described the arrests as a key development in a complex investigation. He stated that detectives are meticulously gathering evidence for a potential prosecution and are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service. "We don’t lose sight of the fact that at the heart of this are students whose university experience has been impacted by money that should’ve been invested in their education instead allegedly being used for personal gain," Jackson added.
Detectives are reportedly analyzing around 60 transactions and examining more than a million emails as part of their investigation. In May 2025, the university's vice-chancellor, Professor George Holmes, along with two senior staff members, was suspended. The university has been contacted for comment.