ASHLEA SIMON REPORTS ARREST IN SALFORD DAMAGE INQUIRY

Ashlea Simon said Greater Manchester Police arrested her at Manchester Airport on 25 October after she returned from a family holiday. The force confirmed it had arrested a woman on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage in connection with an investigation in Salford. Police released the woman on bail. Simon, a former co-leader of Britain First who is now associated with All For England, said the arrest concerned videos she had posted about houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). She said she had “not committed a crime in my life”.

Simon said she had made videos since July identifying properties she believed were HMOs in Walkden, Salford. She also claimed officers searched her home while she was away and had an arrest warrant. Greater Manchester Police is investigating about 50 incidents across Salford, Tameside and Stockport involving vandalism at HMOs and family homes, as well as damage to cars. Someone left a pig’s head outside a home in one incident. Police have also arrested five men and a boy on suspicion of offences linked to criminal damage.

Chief Superintendent Marcus Noden said on Friday that officers “suspect vulnerable people are being exploited and paid to damage buildings they believe are HMOs”. He said officers believed some of those people might be children. Noden described that possibility as one line of enquiry. Greater Manchester Police has not confirmed Simon’s claim that officers searched her home twice.