In a stunning rebuke, one of the UK's largest police forces has been ordered into an enhanced level of monitoring following a watchdog report that exposed catastrophic failures in its most fundamental duties. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has placed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) into the "Engage" process, known as special measures, after identifying severe deficiencies in how it records crime and protects the public.
The move comes after a recent inspection revealed that GMP is failing across a range of critical areas. The most alarming finding was that the force is incorrectly recording an estimated 80,000 crimes per year, effectively leaving a vast number of victims without justice or support. This failure has a direct and devastating impact on the public's safety and trust.
A Pattern of Institutional Failure
The inspectorate's report painted a picture of a force in deep crisis, with problems permeating its core operations:
- Emergency Response: Officers are consistently failing to attend emergency and priority incidents within target times, leaving vulnerable people at risk.
- Victim Support: There is evidence of inadequate support for victims, particularly those of domestic abuse, who are being let down at their most vulnerable moment.
- Crime Investigation: The force's ability to effectively investigate crimes has been severely compromised by poor record-keeping and resource management.
- Management of Offenders: Failures in processes mean registered sex offenders and other dangerous individuals are not being managed with the required scrutiny.
Leadership Under Fire
The report has triggered a wave of accountability. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who oversees the force, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating the findings are "sobering reading" and that public safety has been compromised. He has summoned the Chief Constable, Stephen Watson, to explain the force's plan for urgent recovery.
Chief Constable Watson, who took over the beleaguered force in 2021, admitted the report makes for "uncomfortable reading" but insisted that many of the issues identified are historical and that a comprehensive turnaround plan is already delivering improvements. He pointed to recent investments in emergency response teams and call handling as evidence of progress.
A Long Road to Recovery
Being placed in special measures means GMP will now be subject to increased scrutiny and must work under the direction of HMICFRS to produce and implement a robust improvement plan. The move is a severe blow to the force's reputation and confirms the concerns many locals have expressed about policing in the region for years.
For the residents of Greater Manchester, the report validates lived experiences of delayed responses and unsatisfactory interactions with the police. The path to rebuilding public confidence will be long and arduous, requiring not just promises but demonstrable, sustained improvement in protecting the communities GMP serves.
