Greater Manchester Police have charged a man following an assault on Bury Road in Bolton. Officers were called to the scene on Saturday 2 May 2026, leading to the arrest of 28-year-old Mestafa Salim.
Mr. Salim, who is of no fixed abode, has been charged with common assault. He was remanded in custody and is appearing at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Monday 4 May 2026.
The incident occurred within the Breightmet neighbourhood policing area. According to Greater Manchester Police, this area has been a focus for local officers, who have identified drug dealing in the back streets off Bury Road and within local housing estates as a priority concern. Neighbourhood teams have been working alongside the road policing unit in the area to address issues, including the use of e-bikes by offenders.
Common assault is classified as a summary-only offence under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, meaning it is handled entirely within the magistrates court system. It carries a maximum sentence of six months in custody.
The charge follows a period of reported operational changes for the police force. During 2025, the force reported 10,000 fewer total crimes across the region, alongside a 15 per cent increase in the number of crimes solved and more than 70,000 arrests.
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