Public trust, equality and culture at the heart of new Greater Manchester police and crime plan

• Mayor and Deputy Mayor launch new four-year policing and crime plan for Greater Manchester.  

• Plan to focus on culture and building trust and confidence in policing. 

• Following work with Greater Manchester’s equality networks, the plan features a series of equality commitments for the first time.   

• Priorities support Mayor’s Live Well mission to help all residents to thrive by working in partnership with communities.    

• Launch follows extensive public consultation and engagement earlier this year. 

Equality, culture, and building trust and confidence in policing and community safety are at the heart of a new plan launched today (Wednesday 18 December 2024) by Greater Manchester’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor.  

Following extensive community engagement and consultation, Andy Burnham and Kate Green have launched a new policing and crime plan – Standing Together – setting the direction for policing and community safety across the city-region over the next four years. 

The consultation exercise carried out earlier this year included over 250 partner agencies including the city-region’s 10 Community Safety Partnerships, Greater Manchester Police (GMP), young people, businesses, communities, health organisations and Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations. 

This exercise helped to shape the plan along with findings from resident surveys, the Greater Manchester Inequalities Commission published in 2021, and working with equalities’ networks. Each of the Plan’s 10 priorities identifies one or more ‘equality actions’ designed to tackle inequalities. 

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

“Our latest police and crime plan builds on the essential work of the last seven years to transform our approach to safety. We are in a much stronger position now compared to 2017 and 2021, and the Chief Constable has tirelessly worked to elevate GMP to one of the most improved forces in the country.  

“While we should be proud of our achievements, we must acknowledge there is more to do. A key component of this plan is our Live Well ambition, which aims to ensure a consistent and comprehensive approach to community-based prevention. By integrating public services with communities and the VCFSE sector, we can support prevention efforts and provide everyday support in every neighbourhood. 

“The Standing Together plan is crucial for tackling the challenges we face and ensuring safety is at the heart of a fairer and more prosperous Greater Manchester. Together, we will continue to create a safe environment and drive economic growth for all.” 

To improve trust and confidence, GMP will focus on training and supervision to enhance standards, particularly for new officers. The quality of police complaints handling will be improved, and GMP will work with the Independent Police Ethics Committee and roll out the new College of Policing Code of Ethics. The Baird Inquiry recommendations will be implemented, and Joint Enterprise use in investigations will be reviewed with key partners. 

A focus on neighbourhood policing remains, with commitments to roll-out the successful Operation Vulcan model to all 10 areas of Greater Manchester and the Bee Network. A flagship problem-solving approach to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour will be developed including hotspot policing, and clear reporting lines and technological solutions will be established to reduce retail crime.  

The Plan also sets out a focus on support for young people, including the creation of effective pathways to education, work and skills opportunities through pathways such as the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc), and focusing on those at greatest risk. 

Building on the work of the Greater Manchester TravelSafe partnership, the Plan sets out how the city-region will develop its ambition for making our public transport system the safest in the world, using the principles of GMP’s Operation Vulcan.  

Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, Kate Green, said:

“I’m extremely proud of our Standing Together plan, which will guide our efforts to make Greater Manchester safer and stronger over the next four years. Our previous plan redefined public safety through partnership working, community engagement, and delivering for our residents. Now, we aim to build momentum and establish Greater Manchester as a beacon of public safety. 

“The energy, creativity, and resilience of the people of Greater Manchester are tremendous strengths. This plan helps us become a safer city-region where everyone is welcome. We recognise that public services don't always reach and support everyone equally, and this must change. 

“We also know that our communities want, and deserve, visible and effective neighbourhood policing, lower levels of crime and antisocial behaviour, and support for victims of crime. By maintaining top call-answering performance; visible and proactive dedicated neighbourhood policing teams; and launching a digital portal for victim referrals and information, we aim to solve more crimes, improve investigation quality, and improve support for victims.” 

GMP’s Chief Constable, Stephen Watson, said:

“Since the launch of the last Standing Together Plan in 2021, Greater Manchester has seen less crime, more convictions, and improved prevention, making the city-region safer.  

“Despite these improvements, lasting change requires a focus on quality service, ethical policing, and efficient resource management. Problem-solving policing is essential to prevent and detect crime, and GMP aims to be an even better partner in joint efforts across Greater Manchester, collaborating to achieve wider safety goals.”  

The Police and Crime Plan can be viewed online.

Article Published: 18/12/2024 15:00 PM