Manchester is on top of crime list in UK, while Rochdale has the Second

London; Manchester is on top of crime list in UK, while Rochdale has the second highest rate of organised crime in Greater Manchester a senior officer has warned.

Superintendent John-Paul Ruffle revealed the shock statistic to councillors during an update on an emerging ‘community safety plan’ which should come into force next year.

The district commander for Rochdale said there were 12 nationally recognised criminal organisations operating throughout the borough – as well as smaller groups which take the number closer to 25.

The majority are based around Rochdale, but they also exist in Heywood, Middleton and the Pennines.

Only north Manchester has a bigger problem with organised criminal networks within the city region, and Rochdale is also among the worst-hit areas in the whole of the north, he said.