Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has been awarded the highest ranking in a new performance system introduced by the Home Office, marking a dramatic turnaround from being placed in special measures just five years ago.
New Police Performance System
The Police Performance System, a joint approach between the policing sector and government to assess, support and improve police performance across England and Wales, was introduced in April of this year. On July 16, it was revealed that GMP has been assigned Level 1 status, the highest-performing ranking in the system.
Police forces given this 'default position' require 'no action or intervention'. This comes after GMP was placed into special measures in 2020 following a critical inspection.
Turnaround from Special Measures
In 2020, then Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was ordered to resign by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham after government inspectors found GMP's new computer system had failed to record an estimated 80,000 crimes in a 12-month period. Sir Stephen Watson was installed the following year, boldly claiming he would turn around the failing force or step aside.
The self-confessed traditionalist took the force 'back to basics' and promised that 'slovenly police officers will not flourish in the future GMP'. By 2022, GMP was removed from special measures and has continued to dramatically improve in the years since.
Chief Constable's Response
Sir Stephen Watson said colleagues at GMP can take 'legitimate pride' in the ranking. He stated: "This outcome is a source of considerable encouragement and one in which every member of the GMP family can take legitimate pride. Whilst this is an occasion upon which we should reflect with some satisfaction, we should also recognise that performance is not a destination but a continuing endeavour. The communities we serve rightly expect us to strive constantly for improvement and we remain ambitious and restless in that pursuit."
He added: "There is great honour in what we do. Every day, across Greater Manchester, colleagues make a tangible difference to people's lives through their commitment to protecting the vulnerable, pursuing offenders and keeping our communities safe."
