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Following a tragic incident in Manchester where a three-year-old girl lost her life due to driving under the influence of drugs, Rawal Rehman, 37, spent hours hiding in a Lancashire café planning to escape the country. Police eventually located him upstairs in a makeshift bedroom, where he was found scrolling through his phone before officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) stormed the premises and cornered him in a storeroom. Rehman had been pursued by the Force Critical Wanted Unit (FCWU), a specialist team set up by GMP after the 2012 manhunt for serial killer Dale Cregan.
The FCWU operates on the principle that “every contact leaves a trace,” though they keep their investigative techniques confidential. This year, the unit was honored as GMP’s Team of the Year by Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson, who praised their role in tracking down the “most dangerous; most prolific; most devious; and most evasive criminals.” Detective Inspector James Coles has led the FCWU since January 2024 and has firsthand experience from the 2012 case involving Cregan, who killed two GMP officers while already wanted for gang-related murders. It was after this incident that the specialized fugitive team was formally established to systematically handle high-risk manhunts.
Under Det Insp Coles’ leadership, the FCWU has demonstrated significant results. In 2024, they made 112 arrests, an increase from 96 the previous year, and in 2025 they’ve already completed approximately 119 arrests, identifying 91 targets so far. Many of those pursued are known to possess firearms, raising the stakes for the unit. For example, they swiftly apprehended Ethan Glasgow-Lattibeaudiere, aged 23, who had shot a taxi passenger in Oldham after chasing the vehicle on an electric bike. Glasgow-Lattibeaudiere was tracked down within 24 hours in Hulme by armed officers and later sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Rehman’s case, while not involving firearms, still demanded urgent action to prevent his escape overseas. The convicted drug dealer had consumed cocaine through the night in several local massage parlours before driving a van that crashed into a tram and fatally injured the young girl, Louisa Palmasano. He then fled the scene, leaving her trapped beneath the vehicle. Det Insp Coles recounted his initial reaction upon seeing news of the outstanding suspect: “I thought this is coming my way Monday if it’s not been resolved.” The intense manhunt employed a combination of digital investigations and undercover operations, which eventually led officers to a property just outside Greater Manchester in Lancashire. When surveillance did not spot Rehman, Det Insp Coles decided to order a targeted raid, arresting him before he could flee the country.
Describing life on the run, Det Insp Coles said it’s a harsh existence, stating: “Living on the run is pretty horrendous because you’ve got to think everything you touch from your previous life, we’re going to utilise and we’re going to exploit.” He also explained the job’s unique pressures, noting that although policing can often be stressful due to overwhelming demand, working in the FCWU is “actually bizarrely the least stressful place I’ve worked” because the team focuses intensely on one target at a time. This singular focus allows the unit to put all resources into tracking and apprehending their quarry with precision and dedication
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