THE VOICE OF GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE
ROCHDALE · DECEMBER 2023
A FOND FAREWELL TO MA’AM PORTER
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A final farewell… As I prepare for retirement, I would like to thank you all for your contribution. It has been my privilege to be your District Commander. Rochdale is a great place, and a safer place thanks to you. This month, we have exceeded performance in attendance at Grade 1 and Grade 2 incidents best in Force, and third in Force for stop and search. Our outcomes for victims, specifically DA, remain some of the highest across GMP. These results show how capable you are. There is always more work to be done, and I know you will start to focus on crime quality and some of the measures the Force are currently driving. So as I retire, here are a couple of stand out moments for me this month which have been good for my policing soul: • PS Louis Chadwick and his officers attending Cleves Street in Heywood and managing a male that barricaded himself in and slashed his own throat • The Detectives documentary, detailing the amazing work by our OCG team led by Martin Soutter and Mark Lukevitch now local/national superstars! However, it’s not always the big jobs that have the biggest impact. Many of you will be having small wins every day that seemingly go unnoticed, like the work Paul Dawson and Jess Bryant have done to prevent Summer Duffy from running away, and now with some self-belief, she is joining the Volunteer Police Cadets. Every day presents us with an opportunity to make a difference, big and small. So, I will leave you with what I have learnt. Policing is a team sport; working hard and playing hard is what it all boils down to in the end, and I know my fondest memories are of people and teams I have worked with and laughed with along the way. I wish you all the best in your careers, I know that policing in Rochdale has a very bright future! Chief Superintendent Nicky Porter
DECEMBER 2023
Goodbye and good luck! As Chief Superintendent Nicky Porter prepares to leave GMP, we wish her the best of luck and look back at her 19-year career with the Force. Having started her career at Thames Valley Police in the 1990s, Nicky then joined GMP as a detective sergeant, before becoming a detective inspector on the City of Manchester division. With public protection and keeping people safe being Nicky’s driving force as an officer, she worked as Force lead for domestic abuse where she helped to raise important messages both internally within the Force and externally across our communities on the impact domestic abuse can have on someone. She then became the Economic Crime and Cyber Unit (ECCU) superintendent and during her time at the ECCU, Nicky helped to support victims across the Force ensuring that communities were aware of the devastating impact it can have on people’s lives, especially when it came to the more vulnerable members of our society. She served as temporary assistant chief constable for Serious Crime and Public Protection before taking up the post of District Commander for Rochdale
in September 2021 as part of Chief Constable Watson’s promise to go back to having a dedicated and accountable chief superintendent in each district. She was also the Force lead for Violence Against Woman and Girls (VAWG) and worked tirelessly across the Force including hosting community events in and around Rochdale to provide communities with an update on Force progress, and how they were committed to pursuing offenders and building public confidence. During her time at Rochdale, she has also supported communities during Operation AVRO – working alongside officers during warrants and listening to concerns and issues during visits to schools and local businesses. Nicky has been the driving force for so many initiatives and operations, and will be missed across the Force. Good luck and Congratulations Ma’am!
If you need any support with Bee in the Loop or would like to submit a story for the new district edition of The Brief, please get in touch with Georgia Holland or Jessica Allen-Millbank
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Securing justice for CSE survivors The force has reiterated its commitment to victim care following the sentencing of five men for non-recent child sexual exploitation. The offenders were jailed for a total of 71-and-a-half years for sexually abusing two girls in Rochdale between 2002 and 2006. Jahn Shahid Ghani was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for six counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, Mohammed Ghani was jailed for 14 years for five counts of sexual assault, Insar Hussain was handed a 17-year prison sentence for one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault, Ali Razza Hussain Kazmi was given an eight-year jail sentence for one count of rape and two counts of sexual intercourse with a child and Martin Rhodes was sent down for 12-and-a-half years for four counts of sexual assault. These significant custodial sentences follow a lengthy investigation led by our Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team (CSE MIT), with support from the Rochdale district and partner agencies. Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: “I really want to take a moment to commend the officers and staff involved in the investigation. This result, from the first of five trials under Operation Lytton, is a testament to their determination to rebuild relationships with survivors. “They have not only created a prosecution case which has secured excellent sentences, they have given those who have suffered a long overdue sense of justice and protected other vulnerable young people from these predators. Victims and survivors, members of the public and stakeholders now have some assurance that whilst investigations into non-recent CSE are complexed and can take some time, this police force is ready to respond, and that the victim-led, suspect-focussed approach taken in this case and others yields results in terms of justice for survivors, offenders and communities.” Op Lytton follows three previous GMP operations, also focussing on non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale, which resulted in the convictions of 36 offenders in 2012 and 2015. In recent years, the force and local authorities across Greater Manchester have put a renewed focus on caring
for victims and delivering outstanding service to survivors, ensuring that they are the centre of investigations, are supported by specialist services and feel empowered to testify against those who have harmed them. CSE MIT Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Whilst the force’s approach to child sexual exploitation is now more proactive than ever before, with a real focus on preventing those who are identified as being at risk from becoming victims in the first place, Operation Lytton shows that when crimes have sadly been committed, we will work with partner agencies to support victims and survivors and relentlessly pursue offenders, regardless of the amount of time that has passed. “Victim care is absolutely critical to non-recent CSE investigations. “We put victims at the very centre of our investigations, and putting the right support around them and going at their own pace is vital to the success of them. “Both ourselves and support services tailor our approach and care plans around survivors, so that they can come forward in their own time. Whenever they are ready, we will be there to listen. “These are very complicated matters, and they can take quite a long time to get to court, but we will be with the victim from the start of that journey right until the end and beyond. “Whilst judicial outcomes are really important – it’s always great to see CSE offenders being put behind bars for a long time – the most important thing for me and the investigation is to see justice for survivors.” Formerly the Force CSE Unit, CSE MIT was established in 2021 and is dedicated to investigating the most serious and complex cases across Greater Manchester whilst supporting investigations led by district-based officers, ensuring that investigations into non-recent child sexual exploitations are of a consistently high standard. Based at Nexus House, the team is made up of police officers and staff who are specially trained to work with partner agencies to effectively identify and engage with victims, ensure safeguarding action is taken, locate suspects and gather evidence for presentation to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Ali Kazmi
Insar Hussain
Martin Rhodes
Jahn Ghani
Mohammed Ghani
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Achieving Race Equality Report The second edition of GMP’s Achieving Race Equality Report is in the process of being published on the force’s website and will also be available on the intranet. The report includes data and information about our performance in relation to the Police Race Action Plan (PRAP) and the delivery of the force’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy. It forms part of GMP’s commitment to being more open and transparent about areas that still require progress, as well as signalling the improvements being made. GMP is committed to implementing the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s PRAP and has been acting as an ‘icebreaker’ force to trial a new approach to co-designing and testing new models of engagement with young and Black communities. If successful, this will be rolled out nationally as recommended good practice. The PRAP is fully supported by the College of Policing and all police chiefs across England and Wales. Actions are focused on the following four pillars to improve lives and outcomes for Black people and communities: • Represented: A police service that is representative of Black people and supports its Black officers, staff and volunteers. • Involved: A police service that routinely involves Black people in its governance and engagement. • Not under protected: A police service that protects Black people from crime and seeks justice for Black victims.
• Not over policed: A police service that is fair, respectful and equitable in its actions towards Black people. Our PRAP plan forms part of GMP’s DEI Strategy. This is divided into the following three themes, each led by a Chief Superintendent and supported by Superintendent Rachael Harrison’s DEI team: • The People Theme, led by Detective Chief Superintendent Daniel Inglis: This theme is committed to addressing disproportionality and harmonising workforce attraction, retention and progression. It addresses ‘disproportionality’, ‘workforce attraction, retention and progression’ and ‘support for new members’. • The Victims and Communities Theme, led by Chief Superintendent John Webster: This theme focuses on innovative ways to engage with Black communities and victims.
The team are working to foster community engagement, with a specific emphasis on pilot areas Moss Side and Stockport. They have established Community Innovation Hubs that serve as a beacon of hope for open dialogue, collaboration and joint problemsolving between the police and the community. These have enabled engagement with young Black people, and we are co-creating new ways of involving Black people in policing. • The Place Theme, led by Chief Superintendent Mark Dexter: This theme aims to identify and address specific challenges in geographical locations that may experience higher levels of racial disparities in policing activities and outcomes. By tailoring interventions and strategies to address local issues, GMP is determined to create safer and more equitable places for all residents.
From left, Chief Superintendents Daniel Inglis, John Webster and Mark Dexter
APMIS helping our battle against SOC The performance element of the Agency Partner Management Information System (APMIS) has been aiding our fight against serious and organised crime since it was launched at GMP in July. APMIS is designed to collate, record and analyse data relating to SOC threats. This includes disruption and seizure data. Since its integration, we have
recorded over 650 disruptions against serious and organised crime, with over 10 per cent of them categorised as major, indicating a long-term significant impact on those who pose substantial risk to the communities we serve. Our criminal justice statistics show that 232 people were arrested, 88 were charged and 67 were sentenced during the first three months on the system, as we step up our efforts to protect and safeguard vulnerable members
of the Greater Manchester community. Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: “This insight is only possible to share this with you because of everyone’s hard work and commitment to embedding APMIS into our ways of working. “Thank you for your ongoing support and contribution as we continue to implement APMIS and ensure that our communities are protected from serious and organised crime.”
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Our fight against honour-based abuse FHQ hosted the force’s inaugural honour-based abuse (HBA) Champions event in November. Tying in with our support for White Ribbon Day and the 16 days of activism against violence against women and girls (VAWG), the networking event was attended by 54 of GMP’s HBA Champions. It provided them with an opportunity to share knowledge and best practice for tackling HBA. Chief Inspector Toby Facey opened the event by saying: “Each one of you in this room has volunteered to be here to learn, and seeing so many of you here is testament to how seriously you are taking your role in tackling the horrific abuse that affects many people from different communities across Greater Manchester. “I am really proud of the work we are undertaking, and I want to thank you all for your ongoing support in the role of HBA Champion.” Two survivors of HBA shared their harrowing stories at the event: • Memory Nyahunzwi – who founded the Olive Pathway charity to educate, equip, empower and effectively support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and to prevent DA within Black communities – spoke about her experience of being an asylum seeker in a forced marriage in which she was subjected to various forms of HBA and domestic violence. • Award-winning LGBTQ+ activist Lucky Roy Singh also spoke about forced marriage, HBA and DA, revealing how he overcame the abuse he suffered and now uses his story to spearhead change. The event was organised by Detective Constable Sarah Leyland, our Honour-Based Abuse Subject Matter Expert (HBA SME).
She said: “Historically, honour-based abuse has not commonly been identified by either victims or officers, but in the past 12 months – after a focus on educating and empowering our call handlers and officers – GMP has made huge strides in correctly identifying HBA and recording the crimes appropriately. “The officer in charge of a case must use C58 and C59 closing codes for all incidents where HBA is suspected to be the trigger. “Across all reported crimes – including assaults, controlling and coercive behaviour, harassment and sexual offences – there will be unidentified victims of HBA. “These victims need our support, and the relentless pursuit of offenders is essential. “Let’s find it, identify it and name it. “We may only have one chance to speak to a victim, so knowing the signs and getting it right first time is crucial.” For more information about HBA, or if you would like to become a HBA Champion, please contact DC Leyland via sarah.leyland@gmp.police.uk
Committed to tackling VAWG and RAOSO The force reaffirmed our commitment to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) as part of North West Sexual Violence Awareness Week. During the awareness week in November, organisations across the region shone a spotlight on the support available to victims, including medical professionals, mental health services and charities. Rape and other sexual offences (RAOSO) are some of the most complex and challenging types of crimes a police force deals with, and often have a traumatic and long-lasting effect on the victim. Operation Soteria Bluestone was launched in 2021, with the Home Office programme bringing police forces, academics and policy leads together to use evidence and insight to enable forces to transform their response to RAOSO offences. Last year GMP became one of the forces to adopt the approach. Detective Superintendent Richard Hunt, GMP’s RAOSO lead, said: “Our process of transformation under Op Soteria Bluestone is ever evolving and will take time, but it is something we are absolutely committed to. “All officers joining GMP will be specially trained in how to respond to victims and survivors of sexual offences. This is
something I am proud of and something we intend to roll out across the frontline in its entirety, with ambitions to be one of the first forces in the UK to do this.” Alongside the improvements to student training, GMP’s RAOSO first responder booklet is currently being redeveloped by specialist teams and external partners. It will be issued across the force in the coming months to further aid officers who deal with these offences. For more information, please read the ‘North West Sexual Violence Awareness Week’ article on the intranet.
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Bereaved boy given dream Police-mad eight-year-old who recently lost both his parents made a GMP officer for a day An eight-year-old boy who lost both his parents within five weeks has been given the early Christmas present he wanted… an adventure day at GMP. Police-mad Teddy Riley was treated to tours of FHQ, Hough End, Openshaw and Clayton Brook. Teddy visited the Mounted Unit, Tactical Dogs Unit, Drone Unit and the Armoury and held a range of weapons under the supervision of Armed Response Officers. He was given house entry and vehicle stop demonstrations by specialist armed officers, took part in riot training and watched a spectacular petrol reception training drill at Clayton Brook that saw officers test their fire retardant kit to the max. Teddy was even made an honorary police officer by Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods and was issued with a police uniform to wear for the day. His framed certificate now has pride of place in Teddy’s home in Whaley Bridge. Specialist Operations Planning Unit (SOPU) Sergeant Nick Galgani, who organised the visit, said: “Teddy and his 13-year-old sister April tragically lost both their parents Beth and Neil within five weeks recently. “Their auntie Trudy Lindsey works at GMP as a SOPU Police Constable, and when I heard about the deaths of Beth and Neil and how much Teddy loves anything to do with policing, I wanted to give him a special day. “He absolutely loved coming into GMP, and April, who happily accompanied him on the day, thoroughly enjoyed the experience too. “Everyone made a real fuss of them, and they went home with a fantastic range of gifts, including Teddies, certificates, badges, commemorative coins and police caps. “I would like to thank the Dep and everyone else who helped to give the children a much-needed fun and happy day that they will never forget.” PC Lindsey said: “I have never felt so humbled and proud to be part of the GMP family. “I will be eternally grateful to everyone who helped to give my nephew and niece what was a precision perfect day. “All the stops were pulled out – and then some! It was like a Royal visit. Everyone was amazing with the children, and they both enjoyed the experience so much. “After the most terrible few weeks for them, it was the first time that they have really smiled and had fun since their parents’ deaths. “They were able to go back to being just kids again for the day, thanks to Sergeant Galgani, the Dep and all my other wonderful colleagues at GMP.” On the way home from his dream day, Teddy said: “Mum and Dad would have been proud that I have made it as a police officer, but it is very hard work and very tiring. “A sausage butty, chocolate waffles, pancakes and hot chocolate keep you going though. It’s great being a policeman.”
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m early Christmas present
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First force to launch Forcer Protocol GMP is proud to be the first force to have launched ground-breaking veterans’ initiative The Forcer Protocol. Launched in Greater Manchester in November, this new tool ensures that key information is available to forces when they are searching for service veterans who have gone missing. Safe and Found Online provides the opportunity for professional carers, family members and friends to complete a form which records vital information in relation to veterans, in case they ever go missing. Officers will only ever ask for the information provided on the form if the person is reported to them as missing from home. The Forcer Protocol follows a three-step approach: 1. The person is reported missing to GMP. The dedicated department dealing with reports from the public will then ask whether that person is known to be a veteran. They must do this in every missing case as part of the initial assessment. The Force Operations Centre can then get direct access to Safe and Found Online, giving them crucial information in a matter of minutes. 2. GMP will then identify the risk and investigate, and will hopefully locate the missing person safe and well. 3. A referral is then completed on a Single Veterans Pathway, particularly through Operation Nova and the NHS, to ensure that the veteran gets the support they need. This will potentially reduce demand on policing in the long-term.
alongside The Forcer Protocol founder Claire Lilly, said: “The Forcer Protocol has been designed to support veterans in our communities, ensuring that we reduce the risk to vulnerable people and put support in place to prevent repeat demand by having a joined-up approach to problem solving and sharing accountability with the NHS and veterans charities. “Serving within and transitioning from the armed forces can be an
overwhelming experience, and in some instances leaving behind that way of life is difficult and distressing for the individual concerned. “We are the first force in the country to trial this protocol as we continue to lead the way in relation to our Armed Forces Covenant and veteran support. “Hopefully it will be adopted nationally after our key involvement.” The Forcer Protocol is named after Alan Forcer, who tragically took his own life following concerns over his whereabouts. Alan suffered with complex PTSD, extreme anxiety, physical pain and debilitating depression following service in Northern Ireland and Kosovo during the heights of conflicts. His story and the issues he encountered along the veteran care pathway are sadly not unique to him. If key information about Alan had been immediately available to the police when he went missing, it is conceivable that he could have been found alive and given the support that he needed.
Chief Inspector Mark Mangnall, who has been a key figure in bringing this new tool to the force and is pictured
New Greater Manchester Victims’ Service provider A new delivery of Greater Manchester Victims’ Services (GMVS) has seen Catch22 taking over the reins as the provider. The not-for-profit social business has been commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to take on the responsibility of supporting
victims and witnesses of both reported and unreported crime from across the region. In partnership with GMP, the service is being deployed from both FHQ and our Force Crime Management Unit (FCUM) at Unit A to enhance the practical and emotional support available to all victims of crime, bringing key aspects of
the refreshed service in-house. Catch22 designs and delivers services that build resilience and aspiration in people and communities. If you have questions about GMVS, you should contact your Victim Services’ Co-ordinator or GMP’s Interim Victim Services Strategic Lead, Louise Sever.
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Remembering heroes and colleagues
Two big events on the GMP calendar in November saw us commemorate the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives to defend our freedom and protect our way of life. We also took the time to remember the colleagues who are sadly no longer with us. The remembrance weekend kicked off with GMP’s annual memorial service at Sedgley Park on Friday 10 November. Chief Constable Stephen Watson was joined by Deputy Mayor Kate Green at the service, which was led by Father Barry Lomax and supported by Reverend Charles Nevin. The service paid tribute to GMP officers, staff members and volunteers who have sadly lost their lives, and remembered the sacrifice of the servicemen and women who have fallen in the line of duty since the First World War. Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods, Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson and Chief Resource Officer Lee Rawlinson all did readings, and CC Watson read aloud a Roll of Honour of the GMP colleagues we have lost over the past 12 months. They are Police Constables Neil Hough, Angela Bullock and Barry Carmichael, PCSO Derek Thomas, Special
Constable Martin Ainsworth, Cleaner Margaret Garrity, Enquiry Counter Officer Tracey Burns, Staff iMET Co-ordinator Valerie Wood and Recruitment Co-ordinator Elaine Mason. Following the service in the chapel, CC Watson laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in the Memorial Garden, and family and friends laid their own floral tributes to those who have lost their lives whilst working for GMP. On Remembrance Day itself (Sunday 12 November), CC Watson joined hundreds of Mancunians in attending a service of remembrance in the city centre. The commemoration ceremony was held at the Cenotaph on St Peter’s Square. Chief Superintendent Rick Jackson inspected the GMP contingent marching in the parade, and CC Watson laid a wreath onto the monument on behalf of the force. The GMP Band performed at both events, and other remembrance services took place in cities, towns and villages across Greater Manchester, with a well planned and well executed GMP policing operation ensuring that our communities and veterans were able to pay their respects without fear, intimidation or disruption.
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Wellbeing at Greater Manchester Police Chance to win a technology bundle Police Mutual is giving police staff, PCSOs, Special Constables and their families the chance to enter a free prize draw to win one of four technology bundles. The bundles up for grabs are: • First prize: Apple iPad 10th Generation Silver 256GB Wi-Fi and Apple AirPods Max Silver. • Second prize: Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro Bluetooth (45mm) Black Titanium and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Graphite. • Third prize: Sony PlayStation 5 Console and Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga. • Fourth prize: Nintendo Switch 1.1 32GB Console Neon Red and Blue plus Super Mario Bros.U Deluxe and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The prize draw ends on New Year’s Eve, with the draw taking place on Monday 8 January 2024. You must be eligible for Police Mutual products, and terms and conditions apply for the prize draw. For the full details of the prize draw, including how to enter, visit www.policemutual.co.uk/capture/christmaswin Cuppa with Cruse at FHQ If you have lost someone, it can be really comforting to talk about them. Sharing memories and telling funny stories etc can also help to navigate the rollercoaster of emotions experienced whilst grieving. Cruse Bereavement Support volunteers, along with GMP’s newly trained Grief First Aiders, will be in Room 330 at FHQ from 11am to 2pm on Friday 8 December to have a chat over a brew with anyone who would like to come and speak about a person, pet or anything else they have lost. All members of the force are invited to attend.
• Launch of a children’s book: Authored by a member of police staff, this book aims to help children understand why a parent or carer in policing might miss family meals or bedtime stories. It is set to launch in March 2024, coinciding with World Book Day. Visit www.oscarkilo.org.uk for more information about the programme. Stress and trauma digital course Oscar Kilo has worked with Me Learning and the College of Policing to develop a digital learning course to give police officers, staff and volunteers basic information on stress, trauma and wellbeing. All members of GMP should be aware of incidents and situations that can cause anxiety, depression, burnout and traumatic stress in themselves, their colleagues and members of the public they interact with. The new course is for all members of the policing family, particularly those in frontline roles, officer and staff supervisors and learning and development personnel. Simply search for ‘Stress and Trauma Level 1’ on College Learn, which is available to anyone with a ‘police.uk’ email account. The course lasts around 50 minutes. If you have difficulties accessing College Learn, email contactcentre@college.police.uk Women’s health event at Stockport Stockport recently hosted a women’s health event, which was set up by wellbeing volunteer Julie Woodhouse and her adorable dog Fozzy. They are pictured at the event with GMP’s Police Officer of the Year, Stockport Response PC Tracy Hallworth. Fozzy had around 40 interactions whilst he was there.
‘Family Life’ programme launched Working in policing is tough, and not just for the person employed to do the job. There is no doubt it has an impact on families and loved ones, whether that is a parent concerned about their daughter out on the beat, a couple missing out on time together or people trying to manage a young family and shifts. Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service, has launched a range of new resources to support the loved ones of police officers and staff. The ‘Family Life’ programme includes: • Toolkits and education: Now available in the Family Life section of the Oscar Kilo website, these resources provide invaluable insights and practical advice on navigating the issues faced by police families in key areas such as mental health, communicating with children, finances and the challenges of living with a shift worker. • Bereavement counselling support: For families of officers and staff who tragically die in the execution of their duties or by suicide.
If you would like to share good practice from your area, please send details to wellbeingvolunteercoordinators@ gmp.police.uk Awareness in December GMP’s monthly wellbeing theme for December is ‘physical health, fitness and nutrition’. Awareness dates for the diary in December include: • Friday 1 December: World AIDS Day • Saturday 2 December: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery • Saturday 2 December to Friday 8 December: National Grief Awareness Week • Sunday 10 December: Human Rights Day
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A focus on Rochdale Town Centre Neighbourhood Team Across the district, local neighbourhood teams have been making strides with community engagement, locking up criminals and tackling known issues in their areas. One such focus is the team across Rochdale town centre who have been engaging with partners such as local supermarkets and Pub Watch, alongside dismantling cannabis farms, seizing cars and drugs to tackle criminality in their areas. • Engaging with partners Neighbourhood officers have been spending time with local supermarkets to understand issues and continue to make good progress in terms of antisocial behaviour with specific reference to begging around the stores. As well
as factoring these businesses into their patrol plans to increase the relationship between ourselves and the stores. Police Constable James Coyne has also attended local Pub Watch meetings to find out the main concerns with a number of healthy discussions around how as a team they can move forward and build up to tackle issues head-on in the run up to the festive period. • Operation Treacle Across Halloween and Bonfire night, a big concern for the team was fireworks, following reports of youths throwing these within the town centre. This has resulted in several officers conducting plain clothes patrols at the times they were getting these reports and keeping communities safe as they are walking
around the town centre. • Tackling drugs in our communities Recently, the team dismantled a cannabis farm in the town centre which came to light following a concern from the electricity board regarding smoking wiring. Officers attended to find a small cannabis farm however, over 100 full size plants were disposed of in a bid to tackle this type of criminality. As you can see from the pictures, criminals are also attempting to use new ways to hide drugs however, officers weren’t outsmarted in this case when a recent house search and a further investigation of a fruit tin, revealed a quantity of drugs which were swiftly seized and destroyed.
Supporting young people in Rochdale Across the Force, officers and staff work tirelessly to support our communities, constantly moving on to the next job or incident without stopping to realise the fantastic work they’d put in. Receiving messages from communities and sharing them across our internal platforms is just one of the ways we can ensure that people take a step back and reflect on the achievements they’ve made – whether it’s supporting a family member during one of their darkest moments or simply building trust and a strong relationship with a local organisation. One such example of this for
Rochdale was a message for Police Community Support Officer Paul Dawson from Hayley Connolly, manager at Meadows Care, which offers specialised support and care for children and young people who are unable to remain in their family homes. Hayley said: “I am wanting to make you aware and show gratitude towards Paul Dawson and his team and the amazing work they complete. “Paul is very proactive in sharing information that is needed, he goes above and beyond to build trusting relationships with the young people in the home which encourages them to share information with him which they
would not always share with myself or the team. “He does not only support the young people, but he supports me and the team. “Nothing is ever too much for Paul, he will attend and support meetings, he will challenge local authorities when needed and is always at the end of the phone for support or advice. “I just wanted to make you aware of the great job Paul and his team are doing, and the proactive steps they take to ensure that our young people are safe.” A fantastic achievement Paul and one you should be extremely proud of!
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Giving back to local children
Officers across Heywood are appealing for donations of brandnew, unwrapped presents to help give every child a special day this Christmas. As part of the 'Giving Back' Christmas toy appeal, you can donate gifts so that local children living in poverty have a present to open on Christmas Day. This appeal is run by the council's staff-run charity 'Giving Back'. You can donate any toy or gift or gift card which is: • New and not gift wrapped • Suitable for a child aged 0–16 years old. They particularly welcome presents for teenagers, as we don't usually receive as
many for this age group. Just to clarify, they are collecting toys and giving them directly to the Giving Back Charity, which gives toys to the most in need to children in the local borough. We will not be taking
requests or referrals. Please drop off your donations on Sunday 17 December 2023 between 12pm - 12pm at Heady Hill Community Centre, Whalley Road, Heywood, OL10 3JG.
10 years of Safe Drive Stay Alive As we celebrate the 10th year anniversary of Safe Drive Stay Alive, let’s take a moment to think about the importance of road safety and the progress the initiative has made in preventing accidents and saving lives. Safe Drive Stay Alive is a collaborative effort involving GMP, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue, Northwest Ambulance Services, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, and Transport for Greater Manchester. The anniversary reminds us of all the ongoing efforts to promote responsible driving, educating young people and creating safer roads for everyone. Safe Drive Stay Alive raises awareness about road safety and encourages responsible driving. The Initiative brings police, schools, and community groups together and focuses on empowering people to be responsible drivers. This would involve following the traffic rules, using careful driving techniques, and understanding the impact of their actions on themselves and others. Over the years, many college students have attended the Middleton Arena to see the Safe Drive Stay Alive project. The event has served as a platform for emergency services representatives where they discussed the impact of dangerous driving and what experiences they have had
throughout their career. Sharing their experiences and insights, these dedicated professionals shed light on the harsh realities they witness on a daily basis, inspiring young people to be responsible. The event also had family members who have lost loved ones in road traffic collisions share their personal experiences. One of those is Ann Marie Hornsby, who shared her heart-breaking experience about her son Colin, who passed away five years ago in a car accident. The collision occurred when a young, inexperienced driver lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a collision with another car. Colin was sitting in the back seat of the car when he became a victim of irresponsible driving. Anne Marie’s story serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from a single moment of negligence. The Safe Drive Stay Alive campaign has witnessed its share of heartwrenching stories, and this year, Calvin Buckley’s experience adds another layer of sadness of how he lost his partner, Frankie Jules-Hough and their unborn baby, Neeve, in a devastating road traffic collision on the M66 in May 2023. Calvin’s world was shattered when Adil Iqbal, a 22-year-old driver who lost control of his vehicle while filming himself driving at a staggering speed of 123mph, collided with Frankie’s car.
The project itself is very emotional and impactful and the performance of Safe Drive Stay Alive shows the dangers associated with the ‘Fatal 4’ factors which contributes to road accidents. The project highlights the consequences of speeding, drink driving, distraction and not wearing a seatbelt. In the last decade, Greater Manchester alone has witnessed 133 young driver-related deaths on its roads. By showcasing the reallife consequences associated with these factors, the initiative seeks to instil a sense of responsibility and encourage young drivers to make safer choices while driving. The Safe Drive Stay Alive project recognises these alarming statistics through education and awareness and aims to inspire a generation of responsible drivers who will prioritise safety on roads. GMP is proud to be a part of Safe Drive Stay Alive; making a significant impact in communities and seeking to inspire positive change.