Bolton District Brief - June 2024

For June’s edition of District Brief, the focus is on ProgrammeChallengerGMP’s response to tackling organised crime and complex safeguarding.

The role of the team is essentially, to identify the district’s most dangerous organised crime groups (OCG) and come up with ways to disrupt them and make their lives of crime as difficult to lead as possible. This often means they need to be creative and work with neighbourhood teams as well as partners to tackle OCGs in whatever way is effective.

Challenger teams on each division are responsible for mapping, managing, and disrupting organised crime groups within each division using the 4P plan, which aims to reduce the level of serious and organised crime (SOC) and consists of the following: pursue, prevent, protect, and prepare.

Within Challenger, proactive operations are conducted by officers to disrupt and dismantle OCGs by using both covert and overt methods. These methods include conducting surveillance on individuals within the OCG and on occasion, working alongside the dedicated and technical surveillance units to assist.

Challenger works closely with the intelligence and source handling units to develop intelligence around the OCG members and identify lines of enquiry into investigations. The intelligence unit will also assist in obtaining warrants for operations being ran by Challenger.

Thank you to our district Challenger teams, neighbourhood teams and partners who all work together to fight organised crime and protect our communities.

Neighbourhood officers receive problem solving award

Through regular patrols and a good level of knowledge of their area, Westhoughton neighbourhood team noticed a rise in shoplifting offences and have frequently seen several offences happen in shops in the town.

Using a problem-solving approach, Sergeant Robertson suggested that the licensing establishments in the area all use an app to communicate amongst themselves to help prevent people from simply being ejected from one venue to then enter another.

The establishments were not in communication around this issue so Sgt Robertson and PCSO Moore began engaging with retail shops around the town where they effectively set up a shop watch group via a phone app called ‘Band’.

PCSO Moore held meetings with different stakeholders around the town to get them onboard with using the app – showing the benefits it could have on reducing crime by warning other establishments and enabling police to gather intelligence on shoplifters in the area.

Through her persuasion and persistence, PCSO Moore linked together 19 shops who are now using the app,

which has been running for five months.

As a result of this work, there has been a reduction in offending and built trust between retailers and the police.

PCSO Moore said: “The app is on WhatsApp and involves the shops in the town centre. Basically, if a shop encounters a shoplifter, they will put a warning out along with a photo of the offenders to all the members on the group. This is so they can deter the offenders from entering their store and others.

“I met with owners of the shops and explained what the App entailed, then added them to the group. I will visit the shops on a regular basis to check-in and make sure that it is working well for them.

“The app is also a tool for us at Greater Manchester Police to help with identifying the offenders ahead of time, making the process of investigating the crime much quicker.”

Child protection conference promotes collaboration and learning

On Monday 13 May, GMP brought together key partners, agencies and subject matter experts to share valuable insights into how we can collectively improve and strengthen our response to child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester, ensuring best practice and effective collaboration are adopted across the whole force for all our communities to benefit from.

Since the formation in 2012 of Project Phoenix, a pioneering partnership collaboration between policing, local authorities and third sector partners aimed at protecting young people from abuse and exploitation, GMP and Manchester City Council have put a renewed focus on working in an effective partnership to ensure the delivery of outstanding service to victims and survivors. This was further refined by the establishment of the Complex Safeguarding Hub in 2018, which colocates key agencies; the launch of Operation Green Jacket in 2019; and the publication of ‘An assurance review of Operation Augusta’ in 2020.

Under Operation Green Jacket, which investigates offending against vulnerable young people in the South Manchester area in the early 2000s, GMP’s Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team (CSE MIT) and the city council collaborate to identify and trace victims and suspects, safeguard and support survivors, and pursue offenders. To date, the operation has resulted in 56 arrests.

As a partnership, we are fully

committed to protecting young people from harm and supporting them when they need our help the most. By colocating specially trained detectives and health and social care services, we have developed a comprehensive understanding of how each agency can contribute to our fight against child sexual exploitation, and ensure we are well positioned to use our collective powers to yield positive results sooner. Our proactive teams focus on closing gateways to exploitation by identifying and engaging with vulnerable young people to prevent harm and prosecute offenders.

The partnership also regularly meets with the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Operation Hydrant programme and the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), to ensure that the service delivered to victims and survivors is reflective of nationally recognised best practice.

ACC Sarah Jackson said: “What we have learnt through Operation Green Jacket, and from our continued work to combat child sexual exploitation in the city centre, is now cascading across our teams in Greater Manchester. In recent years, we’ve developed a robust framework, introduced district safeguarding hubs, and our relationships with partners, and the ways we work together, are going from strength to strength. The strength of these relationships not only elevates Greater Manchester as having one of the best responses to this issue, but also means that more victims are having their voices heard.

“Only through transparency and thorough review can we truly learn from the past, and I believe we have done that. I have full confidence in our teams of dedicated and passionate officers and staff who are all working incredibly hard to get justice for what victims have experienced.”

DCI Zed Ali, of the CSE MIT, said: “As a partnership, we have done a great deal of learning since the early 2000s – and, in fact, since 2012. We are committed to learning from the past and to putting victims and survivors at the centre of our investigations; so we developed comprehensive victim engagement strategies, which are considerate of the traumatic impact

these crimes can have in both the short and long terms.

“Before contact is made with a survivor, a multi-agency team – including subject matter experts – carefully considers what each agency knows about the individual to ensure they are offered a relevant package of support from the outset. Some choose to engage with the investigation immediately, while others are unsure or feel unable to at that time – in these cases, we work with them to agree next steps, but our message is always that we’re ready when they are, that they’ll be listened to, and that they’ll be taken seriously.”

Paul Marshall, Strategic Director for Children’s Services and Education at Manchester City Council, said: “We know that when child sexual exploitation and grooming first came to public prominence in the early 2000s, they were a national issue which was not fully understood. We also know, from the numerous reviews that have taken place in recent years, that more could and should have been done to protect many children.

“We have learnt so much since then, individually and collectively, and that learning has transformed our approach to the exploitation of children – from the structures we operate within to the way we support and listen to children and young people.

“We actively use information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, to enable staff to go looking for problems rather than waiting for a problem to emerge, while at the same time across our services we promote and encourage staff to develop a trusted relationship with young people, so they know we are there for them.

“This conference is about sharing that hard-won knowledge and examples of best practice. But it is also a reminder that we can never drop our guard and must always strive to keep improving.”

Operation Prosper launch

GMP is recognised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) as the national policing lead for the Armed Forces Covenant: a national pledge to ensure fair treatment for those who serve or have served in the armed forces and their families.

As a result of this, in April the force received an invitation from the Cabinet Office to attend the launch of Operation Prosper at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon.

The operation, a wraparound service funded by a £2.1million investment from the UK government to improve employment opportunities for military veterans and those leaving His Majesty’s Armed Forces, was launched by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP – himself a former soldier.

Representing not only GMP but UK policing as a whole, GMP’s tactical lead for the Armed Forces Covenant Insp Jim

Jones attended the event to learn more about the Operation Prosper scheme; both in terms of how the operation could benefit external recruitment into policing and its potential use to support vulnerable veterans in our communities. While at the event, he was afforded the opportunity to speak with the prime minister about the potential of increasing the pay scale at which highly skilled veterans joining the police force could start – currently, even skilled and experienced military veterans moving into policing roles are commonly expected to take a pay cut.

Insp Jones said: “It was an honour to have been invited to the launch of this important scheme, which will help improve the lives of many who have served in His Majesty’s Armed Forces; and I was delighted to have been given the opportunity to raise the issues of pay for veterans joining the police service. I look forward to what we might achieve going forward.”

NXGEN Advisory Board launches across the force

In April 2024 GMP launched the NXGEN Advisory Board: a new initiative which aims to help GMP gain valuable insights from those aged 25 and under across the force.

In December, colleagues under the age of 25 were invited to apply for NXGEN, an innovative platform offering individuals the opportunity to develop leadership, communication and strategic skills; as well as elevating professional development and facilitating meaningful connections between senior leaders and future managers.

With the application and sifting processes complete, on Friday 19 April this year the 12 successful candidates who had applied for the NXGEN Advisory Board all met with ACC Matt Boyle to discuss causes they would like to see implemented across the force, and to establish what they can expect to see happen with NXGEN over the next 12 months.

The board members hail from a spectrum of branches and districts; from Custody branch and Corporate Communications to the FCCO, CoM and a number of other districts around Greater Manchester, each representative brings their own unique insights and experiences to the table.

ACC Boyle said: “Empowering the next generation isn’t just about handing them the reins – it’s about nurturing their potential, amplifying their voices and bridging the gap between experience and innovation. Our first meeting saw some great introductions and a deeper understanding of roles

and responsibilities across the force. It also enabled me to understand what our NXGEN board members are passionate about, and how they can help influence change across the force.”

The board will be meeting on a monthly basis, which will see them engage with senior leaders of the force and the wider community; as well as reviewing, developing, and implementing strategic initiatives aimed at advancing organisational goals and driving positive change within our organisation and the communities we serve.

GMP and partners share expertise to fight serious organised crime

On Wednesday 22 May, Greater Manchester Police came together with other regional forces, academics, third sector and local authority partners to learn best practice approaches to tackling serious organised crime (SOC).

The event was hosted by the University of Huddersfield and sponsored by GMP in collaboration with the police forces of West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Merseyside. Special guest speakers included Deputy Mayor for Greater Manchester Combined Authority Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for West Yorkshire Combined Authority Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Carl Galvin, and officers from regional forces including GMP, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria and North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Representatives from St Giles Trust were invited to speak about the charity’s work in helping young people – particularly women and girls – who have been exploited by criminals, while a presentation from the University of Huddersfield’s National Police Doctoral College highlighted the importance of evidence-based policing in combatting SOC.

DCI Claire McGuire, lead officer for Programme Challenger, GMP’s partnership response to serious organised crime, said: “We recognise that working in partnership is key to supporting and protecting communities and I am pleased this groundbreaking event was attended by so many colleagues and partners. It shows the dedication at all levels and the importance of the issue.

“The purpose of the event was to increase collaboration across the Northwest in how we tackle SOC, raise awareness of the risks, challenge our

thinking, and identify best practice and opportunities to learn from one another.

“Serious organised crime manifests itself in different ways across the country, but it all comes from the same source. It often lies in our neighbourhoods and is utterly devastating. It tears apart communities and families and destroys lives.

“It is the drug dealing on our streets; the misery caused by addiction; the children who go missing again and again; the fights and violence. Organised crime is relentless, and we need a robust and coordinated response to dismantle the threat. The discussions had today are a starting point and have delved into some of the best operations taking place.

“Serious organised crime is, however, not a problem we can arrest our way out of. We need partners, the public, the private and volunteering sector, as well as communities to work with the police, report crime and speak out when they believe someone is in trouble or needs help.”

Kate Green, Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire, said: “Organised crime groups are determined, ruthless and focused, which means we need the very best from policing to be able to tackle the challenges that serious organised crime present, effectively targeting, disrupting and dismantling these groups and the threats they pose.

“Our neighbourhood policing teams are key to this: they are direct conduits between local communities and the police; they see the manifestation of serious and organised crime and its impact; and they have the relationships to take a problem-solving approach to tackling the issue as early as possible.

“But it’s not just about policing –we must work collaboratively with other agencies and with communities themselves to ensure we are using all the means at our disposal to tackle serious organised crime and its causes. In Greater Manchester we are doing that through Programme Challenger, which brings together all the different partners who are working to disrupt and dismantle the individuals and networks committing serious crime.”

Dr John Synnott, Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the University’s National Police Doctoral College at the University of Huddersfield, said: “The University of Huddersfield was proud to support this event in collaboration with GMP. One of the aims of the National Police Doctoral College is to promote the role that research can have, not just in strategic decision-making within senior policing ranks, but on the frontline, for those who are working within communities. I think this event struck a nice balance between showcasing the impact research can have as well as providing a platform for police to demonstrate the innovative work they are doing themselves.”

The

past month has seen GMP’s command team hit the road to address officers and staff across Greater Manchester at the Chief Constable’s 2024 roadshow events.

More than 4,000 audience members attended the eight events, held in Salford, Bolton and Manchester city centre between late April and the first half of May.

Along with a video roundup and slideshow showcasing the highlights of the 2023-24 policing year, they heard speeches by Chief Constable Stephen Watson, Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods and Chief Resource Officer Lee Rawlinson, celebrating the successes of the past year and outlining plans for the next.

The Chief speaks

Addressing colleagues from around the force, the Chief Constable outlined GMP’s ‘extraordinary’ journey over the past three years, noting: “Three years ago, we were running away from demand and had started to make silly decisions on the basis that we’d convinced ourselves we couldn’t cope – and none of that was your fault.

“When I first came to GMP, I struggled to see how this brilliant force full of brilliant people was failing chronically. It was nothing to do with you or your talent; it was the fault of senior leadership. It all looked bleak, despite the inherent quality of all of you.”

The Chief highlighted the rapid and comprehensive turnaround made by the force in the three years between being placed in special measures in December 2020 and becoming the most improved force in the country following its most recent inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in 2023. “What you are achieving is unprecedented,” he declared. “It matters not where you come from in the organisation. None of what we’re talking about could have been achieved without every single facet of this organisation pulling in the same direction.”

In the last year, GMP has solved more than 36,000 crimes

and arrested around 64,000 people. Crime across the region has fallen by 6.1%; with neighbourhood crime down by 15%, burglary down by 24%, and homicide at its lowest in 10 years.

More than £15m has been seized from serious organised crime, with a substantial proportion reinvested in community initiatives.

“Our plan is underpinned by the basics,” the Chief told his audience. “Why would we be any more ambitious than simply wanting to do the basics brilliantly all the time? Our plan is working – and focussing on the basics is now in vogue across the country, because GMP has done it so successfully.

“It is testament to you and your colleagues for what you do –and while of course I’m talking about the police work GMP does on the street, catching and locking up bad guys, I do not want to suggest that it’s all about what goes on at the front end; because that could not happen without the contributions of all of the staff at the back end of the organisation.

“It doesn’t matter where you work in this organisation: this is your achievement. It is an immense achievement; it’s something of which you should be legitimately proud. I am exceptionally grateful. Thank you for all that you’re doing.”

He concluded: “We’re not celebrating the end of this journey; we’re celebrating a tangible step towards where we want to be: the best force in the country.”

DCC Terry Woods CRO Lee Rawlinson

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods highlighted the importance of quality, standards, and behaviour (QSB) as the force’s key priority for the next 12 months.

DCC Woods emphasised the significance of treating both colleagues and members of the public with courtesy and respect, saying: “I want everyone who interacts with GMP to receive the treatment I would want for my friends or family.”

He went on to underscore the importance of maintaining high standards of behaviour and taking personal pride in appearance. “The return on the £6m investment in new uniform is that those of you who get given that uniform looks smart; you look after it and you enhance that posture outside. You’re getting the best, so make the effort to look the best and to show your standards and personal commitment by wearing the uniform with pride.”

The Deputy Chief Constable commended members of the force for their increased willingness to report misconduct. “I’m hugely grateful that in the last 12 months, we’ve had a big increase in people coming forward and calling out bad behaviour – not only those who are personally affected by it, but team members who have finally said: enough is enough, we’re not having it anymore,” he said.

As part of the QSB initiative, every member of GMP is tasked with creating a personal plan detailing how they will contribute to improving quality, standards and behaviour within the force. The Deputy Chief Constable encouraged everyone to adapt these principles to their specific roles and responsibilities, ensuring a unified effort towards achieving the force’s goals.

“We’re midway through an amazing journey, and it is a real honour to be part of it,” he commented. “We are genuinely massively grateful for the effort everyone has put in.”

Chief Resources Officer Lee Rawlinson told audience members that the force has made significant strides towards improving its workforce and technological capabilities, demonstrating its commitment to progress and innovation and ensuring that it is well-equipped to serve the community effectively while providing excellent value for money.

One of the key areas of focus has been recruitment and retention. “We’ve actually recruited about 2,000 people – if you think of the people who’ve moved on and left the organisation to replace some of those, that’s a phenomenal amount of work to bring those people in,” he explained. “Meanwhile, our efforts to retain officers and staff who were planning to leave the force have collectively not only saved GMP £30 million, but have also preserved a total of 1,300 years of valuable experience.”

GMP’s investments in modern equipment and technology have resulted in the deployment of 4,600 new radios, more than 10,000 new mobile phones and 3,860 bodyworn cameras. These tools have significantly improved communication, evidence-gathering and overall policing capabilities. In addition to these technological advancements, GMP has also focused on modernising its fleet. The CRO noted: “We’ve replaced 200 vehicles and added an extra 113, including 30 vans and more response vehicles. GMP now has the most modern fleet of all UK police forces.”

Emphasising the significance of efficiency across the force, the CRO reminded the audience: “We must balance our budgets and balance our books. This is public money. We have to show that we are caring about it and we are spending it wisely. Demonstrating value for money is crucial to maximising outcomes for everything we do.”

Star videographer’s work lauded forcewide

Attendees at the Chief Constable’s roadshow events were treated to a short video showcasing the year in policing, created by the youngest member of the Creative Media Imaging (CMI) team.

The video, an exciting, poignant compilation of work from the past year, has garnered praise across the force – from junior officers and staff all the way to the Chief Constable, who personally credited 25-year-old videographer Sam Williams at each roadshow event. Sam joined GMP’s customer services team in September 2022 before moving across to CMI in February 2023. Her supervisor, CMI team leader Chris Oldham, said: “We’re all very proud of Sam. She’s incredibly talented and that shows in every piece of work she does, but it also warrants recognition that she’s an exceptionally hard worker – she goes above and beyond, going out to jobs at 4am, taking on projects that would daunt a filmmaker with twice her experience.

“In her short time with us Sam has gone from strength to strength. The roadshow video has been her most recent triumph, and it certainly won’t be the last – she is a credit to her team and to the force.

“Each of the CMI team – Eddie Garvey, Geoff Lingard and Lisa Marks – has plenty of reasons to be proud of the work they do every day. They are each deeply talented artists with outstanding work ethics, and the team dynamic is very supportive and positive. It’s an honour to work alongside them.”

This Volunteers’ Week, 1 to 7 June, we are highlighting GMP’s Citizens in Policing and informal volunteers across the force; as well as the opportunities afforded by volunteering with GMP.

Did you know that GMP gives police staff and officers additional paid leave

Volunteers’ Week: Employer Supported Policing Volunteers’ Week: meet Special Constable Niall Whitehead

Volunteers’ Week is dedicated to recognising and appreciating the invaluable contributions of individuals who selflessly volunteer their time across the force.

This Volunteers’ Week, we spoke to Special Sergeant Niall Whitehead, Head of Learning and Skills Development at GMP. Having volunteered since 2021, Niall shares how he got into the Special Constabulary and what a day in the life of a special sergeant can look like. What did you before you volunteered at GMP?

I have always been very communityfocused; at the heart of everything I do, I want to put people first. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I volunteered as a community responder via my employer and really enjoyed supporting members of the community in their time of need.

At this point, I saw an advert to become a special constable at GMP. Policing was something that always interested me; however, my career path had taken me down a different route. I found the premise of being a special constable interesting in a number of ways – I could support my local community, but also utilise my skills from paid employment to support and create a different dynamic in policing. What does a ‘normal’ day look like for you when you volunteer at GMP?

No two days are the same volunteering as a special constable. I’m currently

to undertake their voluntary duties or training?

The Employer Supported Policing (ESP) programme is a national scheme owned by the Home Office. It is a partnership between employers, employees, the police and communities whereby special constables and police support volunteers are given paid time off from their places of work in order to train and undertake volunteer policing duties. To date, around 405 organisations have joined the national ESP scheme and permit their staff paid time off for volunteering as with their

local police force.

Hannah Rees, of the GMP Prevention branch’s Citizens in Policing team, said: “Volunteering for GMP, in a completely different role to your paid job, is a great way to develop new skills, meet new people, and support our communities – and what’s more the force gives you additional paid leave to do it!”

Police staff who are either special constables or police support volunteers, and police officers who are police support volunteers, are entitled to an additional 12 days’ paid leave.

based at Greenheys Police Station, which – while I may be biased – I think is the best station in the force. I support the local neighbourhood team so an average day will be booking on, attending a briefing, being given tasks, conducting local patrols and assisting the response team when needed. What has been the most memorable part of your role so far?

As a special constable, I have been given so many opportunities to attend various events and undertake continuing professional development (CPD). I have taken part in traffic operations, public order events and local policing, to name just a few, and was even fortunate enough to attend a firearms CPD event on the National Firearms Instructor course.

So many people I’ve encountered throughout my time volunteering have had a positive impact on me, supporting me to learn and grow in my career, but I’d have to give a special mention to PC Ingham who tutored me for my first couple of months.

If I had to pick a single memorable event it would be the Caribbean Carnival. Last year, the silver commander approved the attendance of the Special Constabulary to support the nighttime neighbourhood side of the operation. This really was a test of all the skills and knowledge I have acquired throughout my time volunteering and

allowed me to do what I love most: neighbourhood policing. Working with regular officers and being treated as part of the team is what makes me continue to volunteer.

What advice would you offer anyone considering volunteering at GMP?

The key advice I would give is that if you have a passion for supporting people, making a difference, and really want to give back to your local community, then apply. I won’t lie, it can be challenging, but the sense of achievement and fulfilment you get is second to none. You meet some of the most amazing and inspiring people along the way and some will become close friends.

DEMS supermarket sweep: more reasons to use Axon Community Request

Morrisons has become the 40th major retailer to start using the Axon Community Request function, which enables digital evidence to be securely stored, viewed, and shared for future investigative purposes, to share CCTV footage from its stores with GMP.

The retailer joins an ever-growing list of businesses and organisations agreeing to provide evidence digitally, rather than via traditional media, since the introduction of the platform in 2023. The partnership is not limited to commercial enterprises: public organisations including the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and local authorities have also adopted the platform.

Each digital request sent using Axon Community Request saves an officer or staff member having to travel to collect an item, return to a police building and enter it into the property store for processing. Once an item of digital evidence has been uploaded, it can immediately be shared as part of a case with just a few clicks, rather than having to be transferred to physical formats. Axon Community Request provides users with a number of significant benefits:

• The function saves officers and staff considerable amounts of time.

• Digital evidence is secure and auditable.

• Reduced need for officers to travel to retrieve CCTV.

• Victims and witnesses can now upload evidence directly to the system.

• Users can obtain and share audio from 999 calls.

• Users can share all digital evidence (including audio, visual and PDF

documents) with other forces and the Crown Prosecution Service.

• Eliminates the need to book CDs and USBs into the property system, allowing officers to work more efficiently and effectively.

April 2024 has seen the highest amount yet of community requests sent to victims for digital evidence to be uploaded directly to GMP’s evidence. com webpage:

• Over 5,700 requests have been sent out to victims, witnesses or organisations.

• Over 4,060 of these were returned with evidential footage, equating to over 70% compliance with requests.

This huge increase in the use of our digital evidence management system (DEMS) illustrates one of the many advantages garnered by the continued improvement of GMP’s IT systems and processes as part of our Plan on A Page.

The following retailers have now adopted the Axon Community Request function:

• 18 Montrose

• Aldi

• Argos

• Asda

• B & M Bargains

• Base

• Boots

• Choice

• Co-op

• Cricket

• Cruise

• Evans Cycles

• Everlast Fitness Clubs

• Flannels

• Frasers Group

• Game

• Gieves Hawkes

• Giulio

• Halfords

• Home Bargains

• House of Fraser

• Iceland

• Jack Wills

• Lidl

• Marks & Spencer

• Matalan

• Morrisons

• New Look

• Next

• Poundland

• The Range

• Sainsbury’s

• Savers

• Sports Direct

• Tesco

• Tessuti

• Tk Maxx

• Trafford Centre CCTV

• Tui

• USC

Work is ongoing with other retailers and local authorities to ensure their systems are compatible so that we can expand the use of the platform even further.

As we integrate DEMS into our other systems, it is extremely important to ensure that digital evidence is categorised and referenced correctly. Where the digital evidence relates to a crime, you should set the evidence ID as the specific crime number relating to the investigation and use the title to describe what the footage relates to. This will allow the footage to automatically transfer into the evidence.com case, which will contain all digital evidence linked to that matching crime number.

If you have any questions about DEMS please contact the Digital Policing Programme via DPPCommunications@ gmp.police.uk.

Wellbeing at Greater Manchester Police

Free healthy eating course

Public Health Collaboration is offering a free eight-week course with resources, advice, and support to educate and empower users on how and why to eat healthily.

Among other topics, course attendees will learn how chronic disease can be prevented by maintaining good metabolic health; gain further insight into diabetes, high blood pressure, and brain fog; and pick up tips on how to lose weight.

Each session will be run via Microsoft Teams every Thursday at 7pm, starting on 6 June. A pre-recorded version will be available for those who cannot attend live.

If you would like to access this course, please e-mail wellbeingvolunteercoordinators@gmp.police.uk, who will forward you an invitation series for the eight sessions. The course is not limited to GMP staff, so please feel free to share the session links with anyone you know who might benefit but does not work for GMP.

New process for accessing physiotherapy support through Ben Fund

Members of the Ben Fund can no longer apply for residential physiotherapy treatment directly.

All applications for physio support will now all go through outpatient services, which can be undertaken at St Michael’s Lodge or at Progress House. During the assessment, the physiotherapist will decide if the individual would benefit from an inpatient stay and progress if appropriate.

The Ben Fund is an independent charity dedicated to supporting and caring for the police from recruitment into retirement. It supports serving officers from Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, North Wales and

the National Crime Agency; as well as retired officers from these and previous forces amalgamated within the constituent forces who are in a condition of need, hardship, or distress.

For more information on The Ben Fund, including forms to apply for treatment, please visit its website: www.thebenfund. co.uk.

Wellbeing resources

Policing can be stressful, draining and at times traumatic. If you have any concerns or feel you need additional support, please contact your line manager or any of the internal and external resources outlined below.

Internal

Support is available from our staff associations and support networks and our force chaplains.

You can contact GMP’s welfare support facility at Welfare. Support@gmp.police.uk or by calling 0161 856 4811.

The Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service can be reached via OccupationalHealth@gmp.police.uk or by phone on 0161 856 5005.

You can make a referral to TRiM, GMP’s trauma risk management peer support programme, at TRiM@gmp.police.uk.

External

Health Assured offers a confidential 24/7 counselling service which you can call on 0800 028 0199. You can also reach Health Assured through the Wisdom service (https://wisdom. healthassured.org) using the unique code MHA189009.

Current and retired officers can contact the GMP Federation Group Insurance Counselling Line on 0800 177 7894.

Delivery of the Victims’ Code in GMP

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales (commonly shortened to ‘Victims’ Code’) is a statutory government document which applies to all criminal justice agencies in England and Wales. Under this code, those who have suffered harm as a direct result of a criminal offence – including physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss – are entitled to expect certain rights that must be delivered by GMP. You can view the Victims’ Code in full at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thecode-of-practice-for-victims-of-crime.

A condensed version of the Code, informing victims of crime what they are entitled to expect, can be viewed at https://

victimandwitnessinformation.org.uk/your-rights/as-a-victim.

If you have any questions or wish to contact us, please reach out to interim Victim Services strategic partnership development lead Louise Sever at Louise.Sever@gmp.police.uk.

Victim Services coordinators

Greater Manchester Police is the only force in the UK to have dedicated Victim Services coordinators, who support police and external partners to understand and deliver the tenets of the Victims’ Code. For more than six years, the Victim Services coordinator team has provided support to district and branch commanders in identifying and addressing gaps in victim service and support. Working in collaboration with internal and external partners, they assist with quality assurance and frontline delivery to victims and communities affected by crime.

Victim satisfaction

Optimum delivery of the Victims’ Code is linked to customer satisfaction and public confidence. To maximise our offering in this space, there is a network of district and branch satisfaction volunteers who work in tandem with the Victim Services coordinators to action tailored improvement plans. This internal partnership ensures GMP considers internal and external sources of feedback as well as our own internal performance metrics. For more information, please contact satisfaction network lead Claire Mayle at Claire.Mayle@gmp.police.uk.

Officer receives long service award at care home with dad

As part of Dementia Action Week which ran from 13-19 May, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) recently helped a long-serving officer receive her award with her dad, who had dementia.

Inspector Karen Clappinson has been with GMP for over 20 years and when the time came for her to receive her award, she knew she needed to have her dad, Alan, by her side.

Karen’s dad, who supported her

throughout her entire policing career, was in the late stages of dementia and residing in a nursing home.

His condition meant he was unable to attend a formal presentation to watch Karen receive her award.

Karen explained: “Dad supported me in joining the police, first as a Special in Lancashire and then when joining GMP in 2003. It was really important to me that my dad was able to see me receive my award and to know that his support has helped me get to where I am today.”

On hearing Karen’s situation, her senior leadership team (SLT) organised for her to receive her award in her dad’s nursing home, rather than at the usual GMP event.

On Friday 26 April, Karen, along with her mum Gillian, husband Chris and young son Logan, all went to the nursing home to visit Alan when Chief Inspector Justine Topping surprised them and presented Karen with her 20 years’ service certificate and medal.

Chief Inspector Justine Topping

commented: “It was a pleasure to be able to present Karen with her award in such a personal setting and in the presence of her father and rest of the family. Sometimes it just takes a bit of effort to make such a great memory for the family and I was happy to be a part of it.”

Karen added: “It has meant the world to me and to us as a family, for dad to be able to be a part of my presentation gives it such meaning, and I am grateful to everyone that has organised this and made it happen.”

Alan, who was a very proud dad, sadly passed away on 22 May.

Introduction to the Corporate Communications branch

The Corporate Communications branch is the bridge between the force, its employees and the public.

The branch deals with all internal and external communications with employees, partners, the media and the public. Our main goal is to support operational policing and build and maintain public confidence. The branch is located on the ground floor at GMP Force HQ.

The teams that sit within corporate communications are Campaign and Stakeholder Engagement, the Media office, Awards and Recognition, Digital Creative, Internal Communications and Staff Engagement, GMP band and the GMP museum. This series will introduce the teams and give you a flavour of what they do.

First, is our campaign and stakeholder engagement team who are dedicated to showing the impactful work GMP is doing within our communities in a creative, innovative

and engaging way. The team uses a diverse range of tactics to effectively spread messages across various channels and engage communities, shift conversations, support operational activity and change behaviours. Each campaign we undertake is unique and we always aim to be creative and impactful in our messaging.

Our team is overseen by our Campaign and Stakeholder Engagement manager with a team leader, campaign officers, district communications officers, a marketing apprentice and a research, insights and evaluation analyst.

Working collaboratively to develop impactful short and long-term campaigns, our campaign officers focus on key force priorities such as Challenger, Operation Castle and Right Care, Right Person. We reach stakeholders through a variety of mediums including press releases, web and Twitter chats, engagement events,

advertising, digital short and long-term ad vans, posters, leaflets, and social media management, while also working collaboratively with our digital team.

Our district communications officers promote Bee in the Loop, our community messaging system, which is designed to strengthen our relationships with communities by informing residents about issues in their area and what we are doing to keep them safe. They also produce the district Briefs, which you are currently reading.

Our research analyst plays an important role in shaping our strategies through surveys, campaign evaluations, thematic analysis, focus groups, research, and stakeholder analysis and evaluation.

Over the next few editions, we will be highlighting each of the teams within our Corporate Communications branch with a bit about what they do and what they can do for you.

Officers reunite son with long-lost mother after she disappeared for nearly 50 years

Matthew Arnott, from Bolton, and his siblings, grew up without their mother after she disappeared in 1974, when Matthew was just three years old.

As the years passed by, Matthew’s expectations of ever being reunited with her grew slim. He believed she was most likely already dead and thought she may have even fallen victim to a serious crime.

He came across a BBC podcast called The Forgotten Dead, which explores the case of ‘Mary Ellen’, whose partially mummified body was found in a cellar in Bolton in 1982.

‘Mary Ellen’ was a nickname given to the deceased unknown woman by police; but to this day, her identity remains a mystery.

Matthew became completely fascinated with the case and wondered if the unidentified woman could be his long-lost mother. He got in touch with Jane Wilkinson, who hosts the podcast, and from there he decided to contact Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

Late last year, the Missing Persons Unit (MPU) received correspondence from Matthew asking for the case to be reopened after it was closed in 1984.

Detective Inspector Dave Sinclair took on the case, as he recalls: “After being allocated this in September 2023, I reviewed the case, and contacted Mr Arnott to establish more detail and I promised him we would do what we could to try and get some answers for him.

“We had no legacy data or written police records, and the addresses concerned no longer existed and had long since been demolished

and built upon. Clearly this limited the available lines of enquiry open to us.”

Following some great police work involving obtaining Matthew’s DNA, reaching out to retired officers who worked on the case and Department for Work and Pensions enquiry; in November 2023, Detective Sergeant Neil Moss and Detective Constable Kev Patel travelled up to Scotland to visit Hazel, the woman who they believed to be Matthew’s mother.

She was living under a different surname, and the officers were able to confirm that she was alive and well and was also in-fact Matthew’s mother.

On what happened next, DS Moss said: “DC Patel and I attended Hazel’s address, hoping at the very least she would be home. Fortunately, Hazel answered and invited us in. She was quite taken back by the reasons we were present and was very emotional.

“We spent nearly two hours speaking with her as she relayed her story, which was quite a remarkable journey, but also very sad in that she appears to have lived a completely different life and had never spoken with anyone about her past other than to myself and Kev. She re-married but didn’t have other children of her own. Hazel always regretted leaving her children, but clearly, she had her reasons for leaving.

“I asked Hazel about whether she would wish to speak with Matthew and her other children, however at that time she was very unsure. Upon leaving her address, I rang Matthew to break the news. I hadn’t told him previously that we had positively identified his mum. Matthew understandably had mixed emotions.

“Unfortunately, I could not provide Matthew with much detail, but offered going forward to act if he wished as an intermediary as Hazel was happy for me to have her contact details.

“Approximately five days later, Matthew drafted a letter which he wanted me to forward onto his mum. It transpires that approximately two months later, Hazel reached

out directly to Matthew, and they continued communicating via phone for several weeks.

“Matthew has now informed me that he has visited his mum in Scotland and last week, she stayed with him at his home address in South Wales. He no longer refers to her as Hazel, but Mum.”

Matthew has since sent a heartwarming update, where he said: “It was a 50-year-old family mystery that so easily could have been kicked into the long grass by Bolton CID, especially since it was investigated at the time of my mum’s disappearance. Yet, Bolton CID, specifically David Sinclair and Neil Moss, picked the case up and ran with it. I’d pushed for the case to be opened, thinking my mum had died at the time of her disappearance. I’d spent years not knowing how to begin the search.

“It is a real understatement to say my world was completely rocked when Neil called me within a matter of weeks to tell me he had been talking to my mum for 90 minutes. I was relieved and also shocked. Over the coming weeks I went through every emotion imaginable. Ultimately, though, I’ve now established a relationship with my mum and have even met her twice.

“I cannot thank the team enough for the opportunity I’ve now been given to spend time with my mum - something I’ve not done for 50 years.”

You can find out more about this moving story here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/ brand/p0dny6v9