Residents across Greater Manchester are being forced to take crime-fighting into their own hands, recording incidents on mobile phones and confronting suspects directly due to catastrophic failures in the region's police service.
A damning investigation has uncovered that the police force is urging victims to gather their own evidence, including photographing criminals and documenting number plates, as the beleaguered 101 non-emergency system collapses under overwhelming pressure.
'We've been abandoned'
One shocking case reveals how a local resident, after reporting an attempted car theft, was instructed by police to review his own CCTV and provide stills of the suspect - only to be told days later that the investigation had been closed due to 'lack of evidence'.
Another family, terrorised by antisocial neighbours, resorted to creating a detailed incident log after multiple 101 calls went unanswered. "We've been completely abandoned," the father told investigators. "When you can't even get through to report crime, what are you supposed to do?"
Systemic failures exposed
The crisis has reached such critical levels that:
- The 101 call system is failing to answer thousands of calls daily
- Response times for non-emergency incidents have stretched to days
- Officers are being pulled from investigations to cover basic staffing gaps
- Victims report being passed between departments without resolution
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has launched an urgent review, describing the situation as "completely unacceptable" and demanding immediate improvements from Chief Constable Stephen Watson.
Leadership under pressure
While Chief Constable Watson acknowledges the force's "considerable shortcomings," he insists progress is being made. However, with the police and crime commissioner demanding "visible and rapid improvement," patience is wearing thin among both politicians and the public.
The scandal raises serious questions about police accountability and whether other forces across England and Wales face similar crises in public service delivery.
