A dedicated team of fugitive finders based in Tameside are continuing to hunt and find the most-wanted targets across Greater Manchester.

So far, this year alone, the Force Critical Wanted Unit has been responsible for arresting 42 of Greater Manchester Police's most wanted for the most serious offences - including 11 for murder, eight for robbery, and dozens of others for assaults, burglary, and rape.

This includes Edward Best, from Chicago, who was caught at Holyhead ferry port by officers, after the 26-year-old was stopped by authorities at Dublin airport and ferried back to Britain less than 48 hours after he became the subject of an urgent manhunt.

Earlier this year, Best had flown to Manchester to stalk a woman from Hyde who he had met online before barricading her cousin in a house while armed with a hammer during a terrifying three-hour ordeal. While Best was escaping, police were called to the incident and began an urgent manhunt to identify Best and track him down to where he had run off to.

Detectives from Ashton CID worked with GMP's fugitive finders from the Force Critical Wanted Unit while the American was making his way to Birmingham with a view to flying back to the United States.

He missed his flight by 40 minutes and instead travelled to Holyhead where he boarded a ferry to Ireland but was stopped by security while sat on a plane at Dublin airport before it set off to New York after he was alerted as being wanted. 

Best was taken back to north Wales by Irish police to be met by specialist officers who arrested him and took him back to a custody station in Greater Manchester for questioning.

It was one of dozens of examples where the team work around the clock to catch fugitives that pose the most significant risk to the public whether they be hiding in the county, the region, nationally, or internationally.

Police are still actively searching for the whereabouts of John Belfield on suspicion of the murder of a man in Mossley. 

Two suspects have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and police are reminding anyone guilty of this offence can face up to 10 years imprisonment.

Belfield, 28, from the Openshaw area, is wanted on suspicion of murdering Thomas Campbell, whose body was found by a neighbour having suffered a 'quite horrific' level of injury.

Mr Campbell, 38, was found dead at a property on Riverside on 3 July. 

Members of the public are warned not to approach Belfield and instead call 999 if they see him. 

John Belfield

Any information about anyone who may be involved in crime should contact GMP in confidence via the LiveChat facility or by calling 101. Always call 999 in an emergency. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Watch a video of DI Simon Akker explaining the Force Critical Wanted Unit's work at the top of the page.