Seven properties raided as police investigate ‘serious allegations of fraud and bribery’ at the University of Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Police’s major incidents team on Wednesday raided seven properties in Greater Manchester and the south of England in connection with the force’s corruption investigation into the University of Greater Manchester.

Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson, the force’s lead for crime, intelligence and forensics, said in a statement released today: “These are the very initial stages of what is set to be a complex and lengthy investigation into serious allegations of fraud and bribery at the University of Greater Manchester.”

The police confirmed on 13 May that they had begun investigating “financial irregularities” at the university after “a review of allegations published in The Mill”, but today’s statement marks the first time the force have said that their enquiries now focus on “suspected fraud and bribery”. A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said that officers from the force’s major incidents team conducted the searches “to seize as much evidence as possible” at seven addresses that they “believe are relevant to our enquiries”. The major incidents team is made up of specialist officers who are often deployed to deal with homicides and serious organised crime.

The Mill has learned that one of the premises visited by police is the home of Joseph Wheeler, a car marketing executive based in Milton Keynes who amassed enormous influence at the University of Greater Manchester. Wheeler declined to comment when I called him today. The police would offer no details on the locations of their searches.

The University of Greater Manchester suspended three officials on 13 May as a result of “serious allegations” – the vice chancellor George Holmes, the provost Zubair Hanslot and the medical lecturer Gideon Sorochi Okorie. It followed a report by the independent auditors PwC, which was commissioned by the university’s senior leadership after The Mill revealed in February that senior executives at the university attempted to divert hundreds of thousands in tuition fees into a private company which was owned by Wheeler. He did not deny any of the allegations in this story, and a university spokesperson confirmed at the time that Holmes had launched an investigation.

Holmes is one of the UK’s longest serving vice chancellors. He led the rebranding of what was once known as the University of Bolton into the University of Greater Manchester to increase the university’s access to international student markets. Greater Manchester Police have not said whether Holmes and the other two suspended university officials are the targets of its investigation. 

In internal communications to staff at 12:57pm today, the university’s interim vice chancellor Greg Walker confirmed that the suspended officials “continue to be subject to a police investigation” and stressed that the suspensions are “precautionary” and “do not indicate any potential outcome about the individuals involved”. Walker added that “the university remains fully operational, and there will be no disruption to teaching, learning or student services”.

A university spokesperson said: “We continue to provide any assistance the police require as part of their enquiries and are keeping colleagues and students at the University updated as and when we are able to.” 

Phil Brickell, MP for Bolton West, said: "This is a significant development and a concern for the university’s students, employees and everyone across Bolton who should instead be focusing on the immense achievements of students graduating this week."

Joseph Wheeler was dismissed by the university following The Mill’s February report, in which staff accused him of being a racist bully who threatened to sack people if they didn’t bend to his will. Wheeler did not respond to The Mill’s questions for that story.

We then obtained contracts, emails and other files showing that Wheeler and another senior staff member at the university, attempted to set up a deal with a company in Casablanca, Morocco that would funnel large sums from one of the university’s biggest commercial partners into Wheeler’s private company. We also found evidence that Wheeler had asked a university employee to pay £56,000 into his son’s personal bank account as part of the deal.

I reached Wheeler briefly today to ask about police activity outside his house. He said: “No, thanks Mollie”, and hung up.