Police say criminals are recruiting vulnerable people, including children, to target Greater Manchester homes

Greater Manchester Police believe criminals are recruiting vulnerable people, including children, to damage homes they suspect are houses in multiple occupation, or HMOs. Dozens of properties have been targeted across the region, mostly in Salford, with others in Stockport and Tameside.

An HMO is a property occupied by several separate households. The buildings attacked are either HMOs or properties mistaken for them, and police have received at least 46 separate reports of criminal damage. Cars have been targeted as well as houses. Windows have been smashed, and walls and doors sprayed with graffiti reading "fuck off" and "no HMO". The houses were targeted because they were believed to hold immigrants or refugees.

Chief Superintendent Marcus Noden said vulnerable people are suspected of being exploited and paid to damage buildings they believe are HMOs, and that some of those exploited are believed to be children. The attacks began on 5 October. Police say social media was used to "push the message out across different areas".

BBC reporting gives a count of 41 properties targeted in Salford and three in Tameside. In Little Hulton, Salford, one family's house was targeted in an attack on a property mistaken for an HMO. The father of the family said they no longer feel safe there.

A 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at an address in Salford overnight and remained in custody for questioning. A 46-year-old man and a 39-year-old man were arrested on Monday, and a 33-year-old man on Wednesday, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage, meaning agreeing with others to carry out the damage. Earlier, police arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection with the series of incidents.

Salford council has taken down roadside banners reading "IRLAM AND CADISHEAD SAY NO TO MIGRANT HMOs".