The Brief - May 2023

FORCE CAPABILITY BOOSTED BY 14 NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART VANS

The force has continued its investment into our fleet by taking delivery of 14 state-of-the-art new vans for the Tactical Aid Unit in support of the Plan on a Page commitments.

The TAU has received considerable investment, resulting in the unit almost doubling in size in terms of officer numbers.

The officers are split between Openshaw and Leigh to enhance our service delivery across Greater Manchester.

The new vans continue this investment and look significantly different, being navy in colour and having improved livery.

They have been kitted out to meet our current demand and with future demand in mind.

With the inside also being upgraded, including the installation of TV monitors to hold briefings, the new vans can double up as JESIP command vehicles on major incidents.

They also have their own power supply to maximise the use of mobile technology.

Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said: “The new vans are part of a 12-month project, which is on track to see all 14 vans operational by the end of June 2023. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to make this happen.

“The TAU has been utilising a

number of vehicles which have reached their end of life.

“These new vans will help with the force’s plans to invest in the specialist capability of the TAU, ensuring that the teams have the very best equipment to respond to threats and protect our communities.

“The staff have been directly involved in developing the specification for the vehicles, to ensure that they meet the diverse operational demands which the TAU is called upon to deal with.

“The whole look and feel of the

new vans is very impactive and provides a statement of intent to demonstrate the proactive, no-nonsense approach GMP is taking to deal with crime and disorder.

“Now that the new vans are operational, our colleagues and members of the public can expect to see them patrolling crime hotspots, proactively dealing with criminals on the streets and supporting planned operations across our districts, such as Op Vulcan and Op Avro, nighttime economy policing and wider neighbourhood policing issues.”

Sedgley Park room renamed, page 4 · PSUK water polo title retained, page 12

Continuing to tackle burglary head on

Centre pages

Groups receive Chief Constable Commendations

Page 8 & 9

Prime Minister and Home Secretary visit

RECORD £15 MILLION RECOVERED TO BENEFIT POLICING OPERATIONS AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE

Our Economic Crime Unit recovered a record amount of more than £15 million during the tax year that ended last month – and a substantial amount of it will be spent on policing posts, initiatives and operations.

Since April 2022 specialist investigators in the ECU and officers based across our districts have confiscated and forfeited a total of £15,751,210 in criminal finances.

As part of the national Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), some of the funds recovered are returned to GMP to be utilised in furthering asset recovery work, policing operations and funding community initiatives to tackle and prevent crime.

Of the £15.7m recovered, over £5.1m of it will be returned to GMP under the scheme operated by the Home Office.

To put this into context, the average annual ARIS return for the years between 2012 and 2020 was just over £1.9m.

Examples of how ARIS funds have been spent on GMP operations and policing initiatives to prevent and tackle crime in Greater Manchester over the past year include:

• Operation Vulcan has received over £1m in funding from ARIS – the operation created in November 2022 continues to tackle counterfeit stores and organised criminality in Cheetham Hill

• Operation Naseby has received £175,000 to tackle organised crime in Salford

• Operation Sherwood, an investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Oldham, has received £117,000

• Operation AVRO has received £81,000 to promote the operation’s days of action across our districts. The funds recovered this year is made up from:

• Over £8.5m from the Account Freezing Order Team (AFO) – by conducting civil investigations, the team freezes suspected criminal funds in bank accounts, and these are then forfeited at court

• Around £4m from the Asset Detention and Recovery Unit (ADRU), who won the Annual Chief’s Award for Team of the Year in 2021 – the team deals with the seizures of cash and listed assets by conducting civil investigations following seizures by other teams in the ECU, with a view to forfeiting seized cash and assets to be invested back into the community

• Nearly £3m from the Confiscation and Restrain Unit – this is made up of financial investigators who restrain assets such as houses and then seek Confiscation Orders following criminal convictions.

Detective Superintendent Joseph Harrop, who leads our ECU, said: “The £15,751,210 figure represents our most successful year to date in terms of asset recovery and is a credit to all those who have worked really hard to successfully seize, confiscate, recover and forfeit these criminal finances.

“Their hard work has helped to reduce the amount of violent crime on our streets as well as recovering funds that are used to benefit local communities across Greater Manchester and policing operations within GMP to allow us as a force to prevent and tackle criminality to make the county a safer place to live and work.

“Tackling economic crime is a lengthy but rewarding task, and we work relentlessly to ensure that those involved in criminal behaviour are brought to justice and pay the price for their crimes.”

Standout police work rewarded by the Chief

Neil Cain thoroughly deserve their commendations.

“Their brave actions and outstanding teamwork ensured that an extremely high-risk incident was brought to a safe conclusion for all concerned.

“The three officers are a credit to the force and should feel very proud of themselves.”

Detective Superintendent Amber Waywell, Inspectors Jacqueline Prest and Julia Bowden and Sergeants Jonathan Rooke, Sohail Ahmed, Jennifer Morrison and Victoria Tunnah also received a Chief Constable Commendation at the monthly awards ceremony, for GMP’s Accelerated Learning Programme.

Two groups of officers have received Chief Constable Commendations in reward for their standout police work.

Sergeant Melanie Kittles and Police Constables Ellie Jones and Neil Cain, who are all members of City of Manchester North’s District Tasking Team, were presented with commendations by CC Stephen Watson at our latest monthly Long Service, Retirement and Awards ceremony at Hough End for the way they dealt with a situation involving a wanted man brandishing a firearm.

The trio located the man in an old camping hut in an isolated area following an extensive search.

The officers quickly established that the wanted man had two people inside the hut with him.

PC Cain removed a window at the side of the hut.

As he did so, the man appeared in PC Cain’s view and pointed a firearm at him.

Unable to withdraw from the area, given the isolated location, PC Cain drew his Taser and began negotiating with the man.

Sergeant Kittles and PC Jones then bravely entered the hut via the front

patio doors and rescued the two frightened people.

Once they were safe, PC Cain successfully persuaded the man to put down his weapon.

The man then followed PC Cain’s instructions to open the patio doors and allow Sgt Kittles and PC Jones to arrest him.

CoM North Superintendent Paul Walker said: “Sergeant Melanie Kittles and PCs Ellie Jones and

A national shortage of Detectives prompted Det Supt Waywell to suggest a new way to train and recruit officers to fill the roles.

She put together a small team, and together they developed what is an amazing scheme to train direct entry Detectives.

A total of 164 officers began on the Accelerated Learning Programme, and the ramifications of the training programme will be felt far into the future, and has set the stage for the training of our future Detectives.

SEDGLEY PARK ROOM RENAMED IN HIGH SHERIFF’S HONOUR

A room at Sedgley Park has been renamed to recognise the relationship between the High Sheriff and GMP and to honour the work they do.

On Thursday 13 April the room was officially renamed ‘The High Sheriff’s Garden Room’ in a ceremony attended by Chief Constable Stephen Watson.

The room, previously named ‘The Garden Room’, has been adorned with photos of the recent High Sheriff from the past year, along with a selection of older snaps. These will be added to each year to display events that the High Sheriff gets involved with.

The finishing touch is a new plaque for the door.

The room will continue to be used as it currently is but will also be a base that the High Sheriff can use when needed and when it is available.

The High Sheriff at the time, Lorraine Worsley-Carter MBE, accepted the honour just before the end of her tenure.

Lorraine and her husband Bob Carter met with CC Watson, Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods and their PAs, who were involved in the arrangements.

Lorraine said: “What a wonderful moment in history! Just two days before my role as High Sheriff concluded, I was bestowed with the honour of officially opening ‘The High Sheriff’s Garden Room’ in the beautiful Sedgley House in Sedgley Park.

“The room, which is the first of its kind to be presented to the shrievalty of Greater Manchester, is a source of great pride to me, and will be to my predecessors and successors.

“On behalf of us all, thank you GMP.”

DCC Woods said: “This is a great way to honour the relationship between the High Sheriffs over the years and GMP.

“It strengthens our relationship and is a step in the right

direction going forward with future High Sheriffs.”

CC Watson, pictured with Lorraine, added: “I was delighted to be able to confer this deserved honour and look forward to seeing the room develop and grow with each new High Sheriff.

“GMP has a special relationship with the High Sheriff’s office, and this cements our bond.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lorraine for her service in the role of High Sheriff and wish her the best for the future.”

Over 150 Bury officers and staff celebrate Eid Ul-Fitr

by Inspector Abs Hussain and Sergeant Kev McGill.

The attendees wished each other ‘Eid Mubarak’ and learned about Eid/ Ramadan and why it is celebrated.

Chief Inspector Ian Partington said: “We were extremely honoured and proud to celebrate Eid with our officers and staff here at Bury.

and one of the most common phrases you will hear people say to one another is ‘Eid Mubarak’. This means ‘blessed Eid’ and is a way of expressing celebration.

Bury Police Station recently celebrated Eid Ul-Fitr following the sighting of the new crescent moon.

This marked the end of Ramadan and the onset of the month of Shawwal, the 10th of the Islamic Hijri calendar.

Between 150 to 200 colleagues attended the celebrations, organised

“It is important to celebrate all our officers and staff’s religious holidays, and I would like to personally thank Insp Abs Hussain and PS Kev McGill for organising this event and providing some light refreshments for all.”

Eid usually lasts for around three days. Many Muslims will wear new clothes and decorate their homes,

Additionally, many Muslims give money to charity, while it is common for mosques and community groups to arrange communal meals for the poor so that they can also share in an Eid feast.

The event was a great opportunity for networking and learning, as well as eating!

Insp Hussain said: “It was great to see so many officers and staff come together from different faiths and celebrate Eid and share the Eid experience.”

Detective’s pride at receiving national CEO Commendation

A Detective at Oldham has spoken of her pride at not only playing a key role in the production of a national policing publication but at receiving a Chief Executive Officer Commendation for this work.

Detective Sergeant Keri Alldritt, of the Oldham Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU), has been on the editorial board of the College of Policing’s ‘Going equipped’ journal since its first issue was published more than three years ago.

Now up to Issue Five, DS Alldritt continues to shape its content in her own time for the benefit of policing across the country.

DS Alldritt said: “It is a real positive for Greater Manchester Police to have someone on the inside at the College of Policing playing an important role in the production of ‘Going equipped’.

“All members of the editorial board work on the national journal in their own time, not as part of their busy operational roles.

“I am proud to have done so for the past three years, and receiving a CEO Commendation from the College of Policing’s Chief Constable Andy Marsh at the CoP in-house awards in London for my ongoing contribution to ‘Going equipped’ made me even more proud.

“The journal is produced by the police, for the police.

“It covers a range of subjects and allows us as a police

family to share good practice and research between different forces.”

The national journal includes top tips, a ‘day in the life of’ section and long reads for those who want to learn more about research that has been conducted and implemented.

The Spring/Summer 2023 edition of ‘Going equipped’ will soon be published.

If you want to get involved by either writing or peer reviewing articles for the journal, please contact DS Alldritt via keri.alldritt2@gmp.police.uk or Dr Jo Wilkinson at the CoP via Jo.wilkinson@college.police.uk.

MISU SECURES CONVICTION AGAINST ONE-PUNCH KILLER FROM STALYBRIDGE

Our Murder Investigation Support Unit (MISU) based at Nexus House has brought a Stalybridge man to justice for a one punch assault that killed a 59-year-old ‘beloved’ father.

Jonathan Adamson, 25, was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison last month after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of David Aubert.

Manchester Crown Court heard that David had been out in the Village area of Manchester City Centre on Thursday 2 June 2022 when he stopped to speak to two women on the junction of Bloom Street and Sackville Street.

Within a matter of seconds, Adamson and the boyfriend of one of the women ran across the street.

Adamson jumped into the air and punched David in the back of his head, knocking him unconscious.

A short time later, CCTV picked up

Adamson, of Stocks Lane, Stalybridge, celebrating the punch with his friend, before he made his way back to his girlfriend.

An ambulance was called for David, by which time he had regained consciousness.

After the ambulance had taken him to hospital, he refused treatment and made his way home.

David was then reported missing on Monday 6 June 2022 by a family member who could not get hold of him.

A subsequent search of David’s home by our officers revealed that he had sadly died. He was found on the floor next to his bed.

Operation Zambesi was subsequently launched, and a Home Office post-mortem examination revealed the injuries that had caused David’s death were consistent with

a single punch to the head.

Duncan Thorpe, the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) for Op Zambesi in our MISU, said: “Our thoughts and prayers remain with David’s family and friends during this distressing time.

“David was killed in a violent, unprovoked attack whilst on a night out.

“Jonathan Adamson is a dangerous individual who will now spend years behind bars.”

UTILISING ALL RESOURCES TO TACKLE BURGLARY

GMP has hosted a strategic seminar for Operation Castle, the forcewide initiative to tackle burglaries across Greater Manchester.

Operation Castle was established in 2021 and has seen numerous successes in the way that we respond to burglaries.

In the 12 months to February 2023, the force solved 68.7 per cent more residential burglaries than in the previous year, and the number of people arrested on suspicion of burglary increased by 42.1 per cent.

In the same period, we recorded 688 fewer residential burglaries. This is despite improved compliance with national standards, which has resulted in increased recording across many crime types.

During the pictured seminar, officers from across the districts heard from several guest speakers, including Deputy Mayor Kate Green, the Home Office lead for burglary and acquisitive crime and university professors.

Internal speakers Superintendent Chris Foster and Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes spoke about the ways the force can utilise all resources available to help prevent, reduce and tackle burglary offences through educating officers in best practice.

As part of the event held last month, officers and staff also heard from a victim of burglary, Peter. He attended the seminar alongside his wife Maureen and gave an emotional account of when their home was burgled.

Peter spoke about his love for football and the similarities between his experience of being burgled and his beloved game.

He mentioned that football is ‘a game of attacking and defending’. In his case, the opposition breached his home defence and scored a goal, taking his hard-earned valuables.

Peter also spoke to officers about his personal experience and how GMP could improve dealing with victims of burglary in the future.

ACC Sykes said: “This event was important for us as a force to tackle these issues head on.

“By bringing together a number of people and experts from a number of disciplines, we can enrich our knowledge and hear from victims of burglary, who can aid our understanding and help improve our response to future incidents, to ensure that we keep our continued promise of keeping the public safe.”

RESOURCES TO CONTINUE BURGLARY HEAD ON

Government leaders make major CSE announcement during Rochdale visit

The Prime Minister and Home Secretary chose Rochdale to make a major announcement in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE).

Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman hosted a round table at the Royal Toby Hotel in Rochdale with Chief Constable Stephen Watson, Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson, Rochdale’s District Commander Nicky Porter, Head of the Force CSE Unit Dave Kehoe and stakeholders in attendance.

Earlier in the day the Government announced the development of a Child Exploitation Police Taskforce to provide practical, expert and on-the-ground support for local forces investigating CSE and grooming gangs.

The Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme is also being rolled out, bringing together force level, regional and national data and intelligence and expert analysis to help forces uncover networks responsible for CSE.

This joins a Complex and Organised Child Abuse Database, to strengthen knowledge and improve collection of demographic information and a network of regional analysts funded by the Home Office through the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

There is also updated guidance for ‘Sarah’s Law’, a disclosure scheme which allows anyone to request information to find out if someone has a conviction for sexual offences against children, with Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and Sexual Risk Orders making it easier to

manage registered offenders and those who pose a risk.

The Government also renewed support for the NSPCC’s whistleblowing helpline, available to employees who are concerned about how their employer or organisations deal with child protection issues.

During the round table, the Prime Minister’s message was clear – by working together, we can ‘stamp out evil’ that is CSE and grooming gangs. It was recognised that ‘policing has come a long way’ in dealing with the issue.

During the conversation, CC Watson reiterated the commitment of GMP in sustaining improvement across CSE and Ch Insp Kehoe said: “We have seen an increase in the confidence of cohorts of victims in the police and our partners.”

This sentiment was echoed by Gabrielle Shaw, Chief Executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC). She works with adult survivors and stated that the efforts of the past 10 years have been ‘amazing’.

“We have found that a lot of survivors have always thought that they were the only ones and had no idea that there were others,” she said. “All it takes is one to speak out and others will follow.”

GMP and partners continue with their determination to fight, prevent and reduce CSE whilst providing exceptional support for survivors.

Closure of property that blighted a Rochdale community for five years

This success will help to increase confidence in policing in the area and enable law-abiding residents to live in peace.

Neighbourhood Inspector Yasin said: “The past five years of life had become Hell for so many residents because of just one property.

“Success for me is when a five-year-old is able to play outside and people are able to go about their daily business free of abuse. That’s got to be worth fighting for.

“I have a three-year-old myself, and the thought that she couldn’t play outside because of one single flat… I just can’t think what that is like.

“This is the tougher end of neighbourhood policing and marks a significant step forward for us in Rochdale.

The launch of our neighbourhood policing model got off to a great start, when a full closure order was granted following a spate of anti-social behaviour from a consistently troublesome flat.

From fake cash to drugs paraphernalia, the flat just outside Rochdale town centre had been causing a nuisance within the Falinge neighbourhood for five years.

Fighting, littering of needles, drugs wraps and foils and shouts of intimidation throughout the day and into the night had left the local community terrified.

Three of the occupants were led out of the Redcross Street flat in handcuffs, marking the success of the persistent work of Neighbourhood Inspector Meena Yasin, who had been knocking on dozens of nearby doors for weeks to build enough trust with residents for them to raise their issues concerning the property.

Following the arrests, a closure notice was issued and extended by the District Judge.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman witnessed the closure whilst on her visit to Rochdale.

All the evidence was then presented to the Judge the following week.

Described as an ‘exceptionally strong’ bundle of evidence by the magistrates’ court, a full closure order was subsequently granted, which means that the property will be closed for three months.

“Our communities tell us that tackling anti-social behaviour is important because it adversely impacts upon their ability to live their lives.

“The quality of life of law-abiding residents is important, and this closure order sends a clear message that we will listen – and we will act!”

Operation AVRO provides high-impact policing in Bury

A high-visibility, proactive operation utilising GMP’s strength and resources has resulted in more eye-catching results to keep the community of Bury safe.

An early morning briefing in the town centre under the shadow of Sir Robert Peel – the founder of the Metropolitan Police Service, the world’s first police force, in 1829 after being born in Bury – was a poignant way to start the day of action.

Officers in Bury made a total of 52 arrests on Thursday 20 April 2023 for a range of offences, including drug supply and burglary, as part of Operation Avro, GMP’s monthly initiative that sees officers take the fight back to criminals.

A total of 22 warrants were carried out in the district, with more than 23,000 cigarettes seized, along with 19.25kg of tobacco and 784 illicit vapes.

The total street value of the seizures was around £30,000.

Several cannabis farms were also discovered and officers dealt with 127 traffic offences, including 73 speeding offences, committed across two high-profile locations. Eight vehicles were seized.

Other activity included weapons sweeps conducted around the Metrolink station and knife arches set up at the station and Heaton Park.

Mounted police patrols in the town centre provided visible reassurance to the community.

Alongside raids, officers also held events, with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter landing at two primary schools to give the next generation an insight into policing and inspire them.

Chief Superintendent Chris Hill, of GMP’s Bury district, said: “I enjoyed getting out and about, meeting members of the community and working with our officers from across the force.

“We will continue to take the fight to the criminals, and we can only do that with the information from our communities and dedicated work from our colleagues.

“With your continued support and professionalism, we have stopped future crime in the community of Bury and once again showed that the good work we are doing is having a big impact on keeping people safe.”

OFFICERS ‘HONOURED’ TO ATTEND STEPHEN LAWRENCE DAY CONFERENCE

Four members of the force marked the 30th anniversary of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence by attending a national conference in the teenager’s name.

Held in London, the all-day Stephen Lawrence Day Conference was organised by the National Black Police Association (NBPA) in collaboration with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, the College of Policing, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the University of East London.

The educational conference offered the chance for attendees to remember Stephen and continue his legacy through policing.

The GMP officers who attended the event in person were Detective Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis, Superintendent Rachael Harrison, Chief Inspector Clara Williams and Police Constable Stephen Nalilungwe.

Other members of the force watched the conference virtually, as it was live

streamed to police services across the UK.

PC Nalilungwe, Chair of our Black & Asian Police Association who is pictured at the event with Supt Harrison, said: “Attending the Stephen Lawrence Day Conference was a powerful reminder of the ongoing need for justice and equality in our society.

“The speakers and participants demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating a world where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

“It was an honour for myself and my GMP colleagues to be a part of such an important and inspiring event.”

The tenacity of Stephen’s family to ensure that his name was not tarnished and his killers brought to justice serves as a beacon of hope in the drive for all policing to become anti-racist.

An inquiry into Stephen’s murder

that was led by Sir William Macpherson paved the way for fundamental changes to policing and wider society, but there have been concerns that Stephen’s memory and the lessons learnt since his death are being lost on new generations of police officers and staff.

The conference aimed to help address those concerns.

Stephen’s parents, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and the Rt Hon Stuart Lawrence, both spoke at the event.

During April we saw the wellbeing focus shift to stress and resilience.

Stress is necessary in everyday life to keep us motivated, focused and productive, but when we are not managing that stress by practising self-care we are at risk of burning out, both mentally and physically.

Members of the force attended a motivational workshop delivered by Paul Oldham and James Edney of Mind Influence. The topics covered during the workshop included resilience, personal development, mindfulness, stress management and state of mind awareness.

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR WELLBEING IN GMP

Congratulations to Counter Terrorism Policing North West Inspector Lee McCrory, who received a national award for ‘outstanding commitment and professionalism in delivery and support of wellbeing services to colleagues’ at the recent national counter terrorism wellbeing conference.

This is such well-deserved recognition for someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty. Insp McCrory has been an advocate of wellbeing for many years.

As well as co-chairing the CTPNW monthly wellbeing meetings with Will Chatterton and representing the region at monthly force wellbeing meetings, he provides support to individuals on a regular basis as a resilience coach and peer supporter and the founder and lead of the Crohn’s and colitis support group.

In GMP we have a network of wellbeing volunteers with a vast range of personal experiences they have struggled with and overcome. If you would like to speak to one of our volunteers, in confidence, email wellbeingvolunteercoordinators@gmp.police.uk

ADHD WEBINAR

In April we welcomed a guest speaker from the Metropolitan Police Service, Carl Mumford, who leads the ADHD Alliance for the Met. This support network offering advice, resources and peer support is soon to be a national alliance and open to all members of the emergency services. More than 70 people attended the webinar, demonstrating the reach ADHD has across GMP employees.

Carl spoke about the impact ADHD has on his life and the workplace, the challenges and benefits that come with being neurodivergent and the support that is available.

The webinar was well received, and interest was shown in how we can support our neurodivergent colleagues.

A range of neurodiversity resources can be found on the wellbeing pages on the intranet, through the Wellbeing Calendar.

COMING UP IN MAY

The theme for the Wellbeing Calendar for May is trauma. The focus will be on dealing with trauma in the workplace, the impact of trauma and what support is available.

There will be several events taking place across the month focusing on trauma, the details of which will be shared by your local wellbeing SPoC.

NEW FIBROMYALGIA SUPPORT GROUP

Our new fibromyalgia support group’s first meeting will be on Friday 12 May, which is World Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.

Please email kerry.smith@gmp.police.uk for more details.

OTHER AWARENESS DAYS IN MAY

• Tuesday 2 May to Monday 8 May: Sun Awareness Week

• Tuesday 2 May to Monday 8 May: Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

• Tuesday 2 May to Monday 8 May: Deaf Awareness Week

• Monday 15 May to Sunday 16 May: Mental Health Awareness Week

• Tuesday 16 May to Monday 22 May: Dementia Action Week

• Wednesday 24 May to Tuesday 30 May: National Epilepsy Week

FIGHTING AGAINST INVISIBLE ILLNESS

One of our PCSOs in Oldham has worked alongside various professionals and a local endometriosis charity to deliver a highly successful awareness event in the town centre.

It was held during Endometriosis Action Month, to support, educate and offer hope to suffers of the chronic invisible illness which affects one in 10 women and is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK. The event welcomed guests who specialise in the field of endometriosis, including a specialist GP, an endometriosis surgeon and a University of Manchester researcher. PCSO Tony Bowker said: “It was for me a pleasure to be involved in the event.”

Trainer Danusia Olbinson, chair of GMP’s informal support group for endometriosis, also attended. She said: “It was a very heart-warming, powerful and educational event.”

The group’s next meeting is on Wednesday 24 May 2023, from 1pm. Contact Danusia via Danusia.Olbinson@gmp.police.uk for more details.

PSUK WATER POLO CHAMPIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING

Northwest Police are the Police Sports UK water polo champions for the second year on the spin.

The team brought together policing family members from GMP, Lancashire Constabulary and Merseyside Police to build a strong team for this year’s tournament.

Representing GMP is retired officer Nicola Holt, who now works as a staff investigator, and Bury Inspector Clem Jones.

The team are coached by retired GMP Major Investigations Team (MIT) Detective Stephen Davidson.

They locked horns with the Metropolitan Police Service in the PSUK final on Sunday 23 April.

After a hard fought first half, Northwest Police pushed forward to

secure a 9-5 victory in the match held at the Liverpool Aquatics Centre.

There is also a PSUK GB team that is made up of officers and staff members from police forces across Great Britain.

Insp Jones and Detective Constable Andy Pearson represent GMP on the GB team (pictured), which also contains a number of retired GMP officers.

They play against the armed forces, civil service, GB fire and other teams from across the UK and Europe when they enter tournaments.

Next year’s PSUK tournament will be hosted by Lancashire Constabulary in Blackpool in April.

The swimming and water polo section of GMP’s Sports and Social Club is always looking for water

polo players, and more importantly swimmers, to represent the force.

If you are interested in joining the section or want further information, please email treasurer Andy Pearson via Andrew.Pearson@gmp.police.uk.

GMP represented in three national badminton finals

Three members of the force did themselves and GMP proud in the 2023 Police Sport UK Badminton Championships in Cardiff.

Police Constables Emma Higgs and Lucy Ault, from the Stockport and Bury districts respectively, and Force Contact, Crime and Operations (FCCO) Supervisor Paul Baker competed in the Northwest team alongside colleagues from Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria,

Merseyside and the Isle of Man. There was a total of five events, and GMP was represented in three of the five finals, which is a fantastic achievement.

PC Higgs was crowned the national mixed doubles champion with her partner, Lancashire Constabulary PC Ash Gibson, in the national championships hosted by South Wales Police on the weekend starting on Saturday 15 April.

Pictured together at the event, PCs Higgs and Gibson faced tough opposition on the way to the final, including PC Ault and Paul in the semi-finals stage.

In the final itself they beat the number three seeds from East Midlands in straight sets.

PC Higgs was also a runner-up, with PC Ault in the ladies’ doubles. They were defeated in the final by a tough pair from the Southwest region.

PCs Higgs and Ault also made it to the semi-finals of the ladies’ singles.

Paul reached the final of the men’s doubles with his partner PC Gibson.

They lost to the number one seeds from Police Scotland in straight games.

Paul also played in the men’s singles, losing to the number three seed in the quarter-final stage.

Paul, who is the force’s badminton representative, said: “It was a great weekend of badminton and meeting officers and staff from all over the country.

“The badminton was of a high standard. Our GMP representatives performed fantastically, and we had some great achievements.

“We hope to add some more trophies at next year’s event.”

PSUK holds other tournaments throughout the year.

There is a national badminton side that plays two matches a year against strong opposition, and a police European badminton event is held every two years.

If you are reading this and you fancy joining the GMP badminton contingent, please contact Paul. His collar number is 70231.