I hope that everyone has had the opportunity to take some time off over the summer period to spend with family and friends, and have some rest and recuperation.
The tragic murder of three young children in Southport will have impacted many of us – you may have children, or helped provide mutual aid to Merseyside and within GMP, as we managed the disorder that followed. Thank you for your efforts during that period.
A 17-year-old juvenile was charged with those murders – whether he was known to services, only time will tell, but it does make me reflect on our safeguarding obligations to vulnerable people.
Recognising and responding to vulnerability is one of our core roles –domestic abuse and care plans are completed to help provide support to vulnerable people. Since September ‘23, the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) have reviewed and actioned 13,835 DABS and CAPS. Well done team!
Under the district operating model (DOM), the MASH will change their name to the District Safeguarding Team (DST), but they will continue to provide the same function, working closely with partner agencies such as children’s social care, health services, and other agencies. The information you provide helps the multiagency team make decisions about what might reduce risks and provide support to vulnerable people.
If you need any support on responding to, or recognising vulnerability, please seek advice from your colleagues based in the DST – they can be found on the top floor opposite the canteen, and we also have a small team based directly with partners in the Spindles.
Using your professional curiosity, submitting timely, and good quality information help the team make effective decisions on how to safeguard children and adults – your actions can genuinely make a difference to someone’s life.
DCI Lindsay Booth
PCSO Cat McAvady nominated for Chief Constable’s Award
PCSO Cat McAvady has been shortlisted for a Chief Constable’s Award for going above and beyond in her role supporting the local community, where she has built strong bonds with both residents and partners.
In her nomination citation, Sergeant Pete Heslop wrote: “PCSO Cat McAvady has once again this year displayed her unwavering dedication and passion to supporting the community of Westwood and Coldhurst. Her levels of engagement with the community and partners have gone from strength to strength and showed great results in all areas of neighbourhood policing.
“With staff movements Cat had been patrolling on her beat alone as a PCSO but this has not deterred her from patrolling the area constantly and extensively throughout the cold winter months, being a high visibility presence that the community have grown to love and take great reassurance from.”
He continued: “Cat’s community focus is second to none, she has worked
tirelessly to design and deliver school inputs to all the varied age groups at local schools and youth groups. She is committed to working with the young to steer them on a more positive pass and reduce violent crime.
“Cat works extremely well with her NBO’s sharing intel to target patrols and assisting with primary investigations. Her level of investigation and evidence gathering never ceases to impress and takes so much pressure from them and frees them up to concentrate on proactive policing.
“PCSO McAvady is everything we look for in a Community Support Officer and it is only right she is recognised for her hard work and professionalism.”
On being nominated, PCSO McAvady said: “Honestly, I was really surprised to have been nominated at Oldham. It was a massive honour, and now to be shortlisted is amazing. I’m so proud to have achieved this nomination. It’s very humbling to know that my sergeant and inspector appreciate the work I do.”
Good luck, PCSO McAvady!
Unexpected death attendance
The way GMP reports sudden and unexpected deaths has changed.
What does this mean for GMP?
The new initiative means that, as a matter of course, GMP will no longer attend community deaths which appear to be due to natural causes and which would previously be reported to a coroner. Removing the responsibility for attending apparently natural deaths is expected to lead to a significant saving of officer hours.
New deployment criteria
To embed the new processes, GMP has outlined deaths that police will still attend under a red, amber, green (RAG) escalation process.
The RAG categories
Green – when a death falls under this category, the information will be reviewed by the on-duty dispatch inspector, who will determine whether a police response is required to further assess the circumstances surrounding the death.
• If the information reported indicates that a GMP response is not required, the rationale will be documented on the log and referred to NWAS or the attending medical practitioner.
• If the dispatch inspector determines that a GMP deployment is required for further clarification of the circumstances, but that the case does not require escalation to amber or green, then a resource will be deployed to assess the case.
• If, following the on-scene review, it is determined that the death is more likely natural and no escalation to a different RAG category is warranted, the death will be referred back to NWAS or the attending medical practitioner and no further action is required by GMP.
• If, following officers’ attendance, there is no RAG escalation required but it is believed the death should be reported to the coroner, the rationale will be recorded on the incident log; a death report, identification and GMP ID bracelet will be required. Under these circumstances, GMP will have responsibility for the removal of the deceased, using the coroner’s contracted funeral directors via FCCO or VRS to the public mortuary. The log will be closed as G10.
Amber – in these cases, the scene should be secured and attended by a suitably experienced detective and a PCO (during core hours) to assess the situation. Once a detective has attended, they are responsible for ensuring an update explaining their investigative assessment and decision is provided via email and forwarded to the relevant PCO hub. The duty detective inspector must be made aware of the incident log and should have oversight and be updated regarding decisions and outcome. A death report is required, and removal will be via contracted funeral directors to the local public mortuary.
Red – if a death is identified as falling into the red category, the scene should be immediately secured and a log commenced. The duty detective inspector must attend the scene, and during PCO core hours a PCO must also attend.
The red category incorporates deaths which would previously have been referred to as special procedure investigations (SPI). In these cases, the detective inspector can identify and deploy a detective sergeant who is fully trained and accredited to attend, although the detective inspector will maintain an overview and be the ultimate decision-maker. In all such cases a death report and – where relevant – a document of the handover between the detective inspector and the detective sergeant must be forwarded to the relevant PCO hub. Removal will be via contracted funeral directors to the local public mortuary.
Where to get help
If you are unsure of how to categorise a death, or if you have any other queries, you can speak to someone at your nearest police coroner’s hub between 7am and 8pm. After 8pm, advice can be obtained from the on-cover detective superintendent. For the first three months a police coroner’s officer (PCO) will be attached to the operational communications room to provide advice, training and feedback.
Virtual policing at GMP
GMP is excited to announce the launch of the Virtual Response and Investigations (VRI) initiative, a groundbreaking step into the future of policing.
The initiative, which is set to be introduced across the force on a staggered basis, will revolutionise GMP’s efficiency in locating missing and vulnerable people, attending domestic abuse cases, and conducting routine checks by using functionalities such as live video streaming. Further capabilities also include multilingual messaging, automated transcriptions and real-time incident assessment.
Head of Force Contact and Operations Martine Craven, who is overseeing the initial launch, said: “This is an exciting time for GMP as we focus on adopting a more streamlined digital approach within the FCCO and across the force, doing more at first point of contact to alleviate the demand placed on frontline policing wherever possible whilst ensuring that the public of Greater Manchester continue to receive an excellent and improved service.”
GoodSAM
To make this transition into the virtual policing world, GMP will be utilising the emergency and tasking platform GoodSAM, a well-recognised product currently used around the country by police forces and emergency services which have already successfully adopted elements of virtual policing into their daily operations.
Business Change Manager Ch Insp Shoheb Chowdhury said: “Integrating virtual policing into everyday operations will take time, but the benefits will be substantial for victims of certain crimes and will save officers and staff significant time. This time can be used to redeploy our resources to attend other critical situations, solve more crimes and protect the public. As with every new policing initiative, GMP needs to trial its capabilities with suitable teams.
“Purchased licences will support three initial programmes aimed at refining GMP’s response to investigations, domestic abuse and missing persons cases.
“Once these introductory phases are successfully completed and we understand what virtual policing looks like at GMP, we plan to expand the tried and tested virtual capabilities across the entire force in spring 2025.”
Phase 1: ‘Location Request’
In early August 2024, GMP launched the GoodSAM platform’s ‘Location Request’ function, a messaging feature which allows GMP to request live location data from individuals with GPS-enabled mobile devices.
The Force Operations Centre (FOC), which oversees high-risk missing person cases, will initially deploy a message to the missing person, expressing concern for their welfare and featuring a clickable link. If the recipient clicks the link, their live location will be shared with the FOC and displayed on a mapping system.
This data is then forwarded to dispatch personnel, who can promptly send officers to the individual’s location to provide them with initial support to them. Based on the successful rollout of GoodSAM at other forces, GMP projects a 10 to 15 per cent response rate to these requests, which could significantly reduce the danger and risk faced by vulnerable individuals or those in crisis.
Project Manager Mike Lee said: “The project team would like to thank all those involved with the VRI project so far for all their help and support. The initial launch of the ‘Location Request’ function went smoothly and according to plan. We have already sent several messages to high-risk MFHs with the live link requests –it is still in the early stages, but we are looking forward to making an impact with this function while we work to keep vulnerable people in Greater Manchester safe by getting them to the right help at the earliest opportunity.”
After just over a month of use, the VRI has proved successful on a significant number of occasions in just a short period of time, allowing for rapid safeguarding of the missing person, helping reduce the risk whilst at the same time significantly reducing the demand on resources. Critical incident manager Ch Insp Andrew Fern gave us an example of the GoodSAM system in action:
“A report came in of two 17-year-old girls that were lost near to Holcombe Hill in Bury, whilst walking their dogs. The weather started to decline and they became lost in unfamiliar surroundings. Despite the officers trying to advise a route to the road based on the girls’ initial description and using their vehicle sirens to alert their position, the girls remained lost.
“A request was therefore made for GoodSAM, which at the time was in the pilot phase at the FOC. The situation was assessed and the GoodSAM link was sent to the girl’s phone. After clicking the link the FOC could see their location and reassuring them they were heading in the right direction.
“The police officers on the ground were given the What3Words location for each update, enabling them to approach from the other direction. The girls were located safe and well within 38 minutes from when the GoodSAM message was initially sent.
“This was an excellent example of teamwork between the FOC, Bury district officers and successful use of new technology. I look forward to seeing what it can do in the future.”
Cloud-based CycComms software coming soon
On Monday 14 October 2024, GMP will transition to using a new cloud-based version of CycComms.
Three years of historic data currently contained within the CycComms system will be automatically migrated to the new system, while all data prior to October 2021 will be permanently deleted. At the user end, the new system will retain the same functionality – there will just be some cosmetic changes.
To facilitate this transition, there will be an outage of the current CycComms system from Friday 11 October to Monday 14 October. Urgent requests for communications data can still be made via the Communications Data Investigation Unit (CDIU); however, all non-urgent applications for communications data should be held back from 10pm on Thursday 10 October and only submitted after the system upgrade.
Importance and impact
The transition to the new CycComms system represents a fundamental change, comparable to the significance of systems like DEMS and iOPS. This update will impact every investigator within GMP and potentially thousands of staff members. Given the scale of its impact, it is crucial that everyone whose work will be affected is well-prepared for this transition.
What is CycComms?
CycComms is the essential workflow tool used to acquire communications data, which includes critical information such as call data, subscriber information, and IP records held by telecommunications operators like Vodafone, BT, and social media platforms like Facebook.
Communications data plays a pivotal role in around 95% of serious crime investigations, and is also crucial in many missing from home (MFH) and vulnerability investigations.
The CDIU is available 24/7, 365 days a year, supporting officers at the forefront of investigations who are using phone and computer data to help solve various crimes. From drugs conspiracies to tracing high-risk missing persons, the work of the CDIU is integral to many investigations.
Key areas of the unit’s work include:
• Obtaining subscriber and call data records from telecommunications providers such as BT, Virgin, EE, and Vodafone.
• Resolving internet IP addresses with broadband and mobile providers.
• Getting account details and login histories from email providers like Google and Microsoft, and from social media companies.
• Receiving account and delivery information from postal operators like Royal Mail and DPD.
Get prepared
All CycComms users must complete the training, which can be accessed via the CDIU hub at https://www.gsaltd.com/training/ cyccomms.
As a data applicant, you are responsible for downloading all applications, authorities, and resultant data from the current CycComms system and storing it according ‘Review, Retain, Dispose’ (RRD) principles.
Review, Retain, Dispose
This announcement marks the final stage of a five-year data assurance project, which has helped the force maintain proper governance in storing and managing data according to legislative requirements. As the project concludes, all users who have previously applied for data using CycComms must adopt the RRD process to ensure that material obtained using the Investigatory Powers Act is either retained for legislative purposes or disposed of appropriately.
Storage of CycComms data
CycComms data must not be left on the CycComms system once it has been obtained from the service provider. CycComms data must not be copied to personal drives, laptops or storage devices, and must cease to be emailed between officers and teams. The storage location for all CycComms data must be centrally held on district to allow all officers and staff to access those call data records. There should be no sensitivities contained within the call data records that would interfere with ongoing investigations or cause concern when managing sensitive operations.
Resources
CycComms users can find the RRD tracker for managing current and historic data on their district’s general M365 Teams channel. Each district also has an RRD SPOC for additional support.
For further information about the launch of the new CycComms cloud-based system, you can contact T/Insp Steven Reilly at steven.reilly@gmp.police.uk. For further guidance on the migration of CycComms data, contact Mark Boldison (mark.boldison@gmp.police.uk) or DI Mell Johnson (melanie. johnson@gmp.police.uk) of the Investigatory Powers Data Assurance (IPDA) team. The IPDA Team can also be reached at ipdaprojectteam@gmp.police.uk.
Judo at GMP
This year’s Police Sport UK (PSUK) National Judo Championships will be hosted by Police Scotland in Stirling on Saturday 14 September 2024; and Insp Mark Montrose, fourth Dan British Judo Association coach and current Masters National Champion, is currently building the next team to represent GMP at the prestigious event.
If you would like to get involved in the championships, or if you just want to learn judo, you can contact Mark via email at mark@gmpsportsclub.com or mark.montrose@gmp.police.uk.
Judo is an Olympic sport, which involves throwing, holding, or submitting through choking or arm locking your opponent. It’s great for building confidence and fitness, as well as supporting officer safety by teaching self-defence.
The team and other members of Manchester Fighting Spirit Judo Club train from 5pm till 7pm every Monday and Wednesday at the Hough End Centre. These are mixed ability classes in a friendly environment, and all police officers, police staff, PCSOs and special constables are welcome. All you need
to do to get involved is become a member of the GMP Sports and Social club on any district for the small sum of £7 per month.
The Sports and Social brings many benefits to its members, including:
• Access to a myriad of sporting activities.
• Access to the onsite gyms at Sedgley Park and Hough End.
• Discounted tickets for events and days out.
• Access to discounted rates on room hire at the Hough End Centre.
• A member’s bar at Hough End with subsidised drinks.
• Additional local benefits in each district.
You can speak to your district’s local Sports and Social representative about joining the club, or the membership form is available online at www.gmpsportsclub.com/MembershipForms.aspx.
Induction sessions for new staff
Are you a new member of staff at GMP? Come to Sedgley Park for a quick induction session! It’s a great chance to get to know the organisation, meet your new colleagues, and learn about the support available to you.
Here’s what you’ll get:
• A warm welcome to the organisation and essential information
• Insights from our health and safety and wellbeing teams, the Professional Standards Directorate (PSD) and staff unions
The sessions are mandatory for all new members of police staff, and are open to anyone who has been with the force for three months or less.
Head of Learning and Skills Development Niall Whitehead said: “The introduction of staff induction is integral for a
successful onboarding experience and links to our commitment to support and invest in our people from day one.
“The aim is to build the foundation blocks by ensuring all new starters are equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to have a fulfilling and successful career at Greater Manchester Police.”
To sign up, email ProfessionalPolicing@gmp.police.uk. Sessions will take place every six weeks, on the following dates:
• Monday, 14 October 2024
• Monday, 25 November 2024
• Monday, 20 January 2025
• Monday, 3 March 2025
• Tuesday, 6 May 2025
PC Raja Ahmed memorial
On Saturday 31 August 2024, colleagues, family and community members came together to remember a brave GMP officer who was killed in the line of duty 25 years ago.
PC Raja Basharat ‘Raj’ Ahmed was just 35 when he was killed after trying to stop a suspected stolen car on Alan Turing way in August 1999. The driver rammed PC Ahmed’s motorcycle into a busy traffic junction, where he was hit by an articulated lorry. He died in hospital from his injuries. The driver who hit him is now serving a life sentence.
At the time of his death, PC Ahmed had served in the force for over 14 years and had received four commendations for excellent police work. He was studying in his own time for a law degree at Manchester Metropolitan University.
In 1999, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the murder, a street at a development in Miles Platting was renamed Raja Ahmed Street in tribute to the service PC Ahmed gave to the people of Manchester and the courage he demonstrated in the line of duty.
The event opened with a meet and greet at the Sheridan Centre, before participants made their way to the memorial site on Oldham Road for the service, which featured addresses from representatives of the Muslim Police Association; GMP; a local imam; PC Ahmed’s family; and the Care of Police Survivors (CoPS) charity.
District and branch awards 2024
Over the past few months, GMP’s districts and branches have celebrated outstanding work among their teams in the annual branch and district awards.
The awards, which are open to all members of the GMP family, provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the officers, staff members, volunteers and apprentices who have done themselves and the force particularly proud over the past year. Selected winners have been put forward for the forcewide Chief Constable’s awards, which will be held in September. Some of this year’s district and branch award winners have included:
Police officer of the year: someone we can hold up as an example of the best that Manchester policing has to offer DC Anthony Scott, Serious Crime Division DC Scott was lauded for his ‘extraordinary achievements’ relating to the sentencing of Lee Standen, the final defendant among 10 convicted in Operation Malange, a complex case spanning over two and a half years in court and many months of prior investigation. DC Scott’s leadership and dedication were pivotal factors in the success of this operation – following Standen’s trial, he was commended by His Honour Judge (HHJ) Potter and recognised by the prosecution counsel.
Apprentice of the year: an asset to their team – someone who is industrious, professional and willing to learn. Ella Price, Rochdale
Since Ella began her business administration apprenticeship in September 2023, she has proven to be an invaluable asset to the Performance Management Unit, showing exemplary professionalism and commitment to her role.
T/Sgt Jessica Fletcher said: “Ella has maintained high levels of professionalism throughout her apprenticeship. She is always eager to help others and has been a positive influence on her colleagues. She has pride in her work which is evident and hopes to join GMP as a staff member. I wish Ella continued success, and she has a bright career ahead of her.”
Proactive criminal investigation of the year: intelligence-led and often wide-ranging Wigan DIU (Op Wedding)
In response to the theft and robbery of electric bikes, pedal bikes and motorbikes in the Wigan and Leigh area of Greater
Police staff member of the year: someone who consistently produces excellent work, helps others and contributes to the smooth running of the force.
Jenny Bufton, Corporate Communications
Jenny is a dedicated, passionate staff engagement and internal communications officer, who is always willing to go the extra mile to help.
Her warmth and kindness stand out as a positive presence within the branch, and her work with the IT and digital teams has garnered her a reputation as a reliable and skilled communicator.
Manchester, the team commenced an intelligence collection plan and played a pivotal role in Op Wedding, which utilised covert tactics and ultimately led to over 50 arrests. As a result, members of the public have commented that even bikes which were not chained have been left alone. The tactics used during Op Wedding have since been adopted by other areas within GMP.
Bravery: celebrating outstanding bravery, from performing lifesaving first aid to putting themselves at risk to protect others PC Connor Davies-Aspey and PC Zack Dorrington, Bury Following a report of a high risk missing of a vulnerable man, the response team on duty pulled together to flood the area. Student PCs Davies-Aspey and Dorrington were the first on scene to find the man attempting to take his own life. They cut him down and administered first aid; and there can be no doubt that their swift action saved his life.
Congratulations to all our district and branch winners!
Force chaplaincy today
It’s been just over a year now since I took up my post as full-time force lead chaplain, and not surprisingly a few changes have taken place during these past 12 months.
For me, the most important change is that chaplaincy is once again being recognised by many as an important part of our organisation, and not just for the chocolate limes I dole out, but so often now it’s for those many other times when a confidential listening ear, a brew and sure support is sought at any time.
While I’m newish to this role, I’ve been with the force for 23 years. By now many of you throughout GMP already know me, but not everyone knows what I and others on the chaplaincy team do, or indeed that we offer. And that’s why I thought it might be an opportune time to explain what chaplaincy is and what chaplaincy isn’t.
It’s easier to begin with what it isn’t. Chaplaincy is not about getting those around us to close their eyes, put their hands together, and pray. Nor is it about leading the singing of hymns and psalms, although if you want any of those, we can certainly oblige.
Chaplaincy is best seen as support. It’s yet another string to the bow of wellbeing, as I was reminded only recently by a sergeant at Sedgley Park, where I’m based: “You forget, Father, before there was wellbeing there was you; there was chaplaincy.” The support offered by chaplaincy is not only bespoke to the officer or staff member who seeks our help, but everything you share with us is received in total confidence. What is shared with the chaplain remains with the chaplain (unless it is contentious or detrimental to the force, the individual or others). It does not fall under the seal of confession – that’s something entirely different – but it’s like kicking a ball against a wall.
I’m not saying we have all the answers, but if there’s something we don’t know, we usually know someone who does; and so as well as being a confidential listening ear of support we are also a conduit. Because we take on the rank of the person we are speaking to, we can ask questions that other ranks sometimes cannot, and in doing so, are best placed to intercede and sometimes even advocate on your behalf. Chaplaincy is available to all faiths and none, and we are always happy to speak with any member of our GMP family.
As well as my own visits around the force, we also now have volunteer chaplains in most districts. They are ministers of differing faiths and belief backgrounds who give of themselves each week to spend some time on the districts they have been assigned to. They do this in addition to looking after their own parish communities, often within the same district; this means that they will have a finger on the pulse of any concerns the communities our officers serve may have, and this insight and knowledge can be of great help, especially in difficult times.
If you’d like to contact me or any of our volunteer chaplains regarding anything that may concern you, our contact information can be found on the ‘Force Chaplains’ page on the GMP intranet (Home > GMP Community > Force Chaplains) or on the posters that are displayed around our districts and branches. Remember, we are here to serve those who serve us.
Father Barry Lomax
GMP Force Lead Chaplain
Meet the media office: your communications team
The Corporate Communications branch is the bridge between the force, it’s employees and the public.
The branch deals with all internal and external communication with employees and the media. Our main goal is to support operational policing and to enhance public confidence. The branch is located on the ground floor at Greater Manchester Police Force Headquarters (GMPFHQ). Their mission is to keep the public informed, safe, and engaged while also supporting our officers and staff.
In today’s fast-paced world, effective communication is essential for public safety. The media office provides proactive and reactive communications and media support to officers and staff of all ranks.
The team is made up of a media manager, two team leaders, a number
of media officers, two social media support officers and a public relations and communications apprentice.
The media office takes on a variety of initiatives to increase public safety and enhance communication. For example, we warn and inform the public in response to incidents and emergencies.
The team also produce multi-media content to help with reduction and prevention of crime, harm and antisocial behaviour, while also publicising delivery of good work to build public trust and confidence.
In addition, they provide training and support to officers of all ranks, helping them navigate media interactions.
Finally, they facilitate media opportunities proactively and reactively across incidents and portfolio areas, as well as requests for filming and documentaries, ensuring that all
enquires are managed through the media office.
Following the tensions throughout the UK, they focused on ensuring that communities within Greater Manchester felt safe and supported by:
• Providing messaging to build community reassurance and confidence in policing
• Showing a visible police presence in media for public reassurance.
• Promoting the sentencing and charges of people involved in the riots.
The media office office hours are Monday to Friday from 6:30am to 7pm and on weekends from 8am to 4pm. For any enquiries, please contact the team at ext 62230 during weekday office hours or via email at press.office@gmp.police.uk.
Officer restores resident’s faith in GMP
‘I won’t forget his kindness at such a dark moment’ – these are the words of an Oldham resident who previously had ‘little faith’ in GMP’s Oldham division.
But the resident changed his opinion because of the efforts of an officer known only as ‘Mike’ (no other details provided), who assisted him when a call was logged in August over concern for his welfare.
The man explained: “From the minute Mike arrived, he treated me as a respected human who mattered. He provided professional reassurance and worked with me. He attended with two other female officers. Due to how Mike was engaging with me I felt ok to continue with him.
“Mike got in the car and listened to me without interruption. He wanted me to go to A&E, which I didn’t want
to do. Mike listened to my reasons as to why, and we agreed to contact the mental health practitioner (Sue) over the phone. Sue was very kind and respectful, she listened to my worries and provided reassurance.
“Mike and Sue were satisfied I was not presenting as a risk to myself or anyone else. I had initially left the house to go for a drive and clear my head. Mike asked if I would be comfortable returning home. He advised he would follow me home if that was ok, to take details and ensure I was safe.
“Mike listened to everything I had to say, and I felt really supported by his kindness and professionalism.
“Previously I’ve been vocal when I feel GMP have let me down, so it’s only right to praise hard-working officers such as Mike who have
supported me. I won’t forget his kindness at such a dark moment. The actions and good conduct Mike has shown me has helped to rebuild some of the damage previously caused.
“Mike, I can’t thank you enough for the time, compassion, empathy, and kindness you showed to me at such a difficult dark time. This isn’t something I’ll forget, and I will pass that kindness on to the next person who needs it.
“You didn’t just do your job that day, you showed real compassion for another human being.”
It’s often the unseen work many officers do building bridges with their communities and gaining the trust of local residents that can help make a real difference to peoples’ lives.
Oldham is one of the largest towns within the Greater Manchester region and it is renowned for its vibrant multicultural community, celebrating the diversity and traditions of its residents.
However, it is also known to be one of the most deprived areas of the region, according to the 2021 Census. The district tackles issues such as organised crime groups, ASB and retail crime.
One of the teams dedicated to protecting and safeguarding community is the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT). The team works closely with local authorities, community leaders and residents to decide on policing priorities for the area. These initiatives allow them to find useful, long-term solutions to local problems, while maintaining a wider focus on the basics: to fight, prevent and reduce crime, whilst keeping people safe and caring for victims.
We had the opportunity to speak with Sergeant Graham Craven from the Oldham NPT.
Retail crime:
Sgt Craven said: “One of the main issues of the Oldham City Centre area is retail crime. A new communications system funded by the council was introduced a few years ago which allows the neighbourhood team to contact partners and retail shops directly via radio. The initiative has allowed officers to respond to incidents quicker and prevent issues from escalating any
further.
“The team has just taken custody of two more radios that they encourage student officers to take out with them whilst they are being tutored on the town centre.
“This new internal radio messaging system has received very positive feedback from retail shops and members. Among others, security staff have directly thanked the team for the work they do and how the direct contact is valuable for them.”
Knife crime:
Sgt Craven said: “The area experienced a noticeable increase in knife-point robberies recently. The team delivered inputs on knife crime to students in several schools in the area and partnership work with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) around tram stops in the city centre.
“Using analysis and problem-solving initiatives to combat knife crime, the area has seen a 90% decrease in these types of robberies. The community has openly shared positive feedback of the work done by the team. Students of the Oldham Sixth Form college have openly expressed their appreciation, as one of their main concerns was the presence of knifes in the area.”
Violence against women and girls (VAWG):
Sgt Craven said: “VAWG is a concern for our community. The night time economy is no stranger to these types of incidents, with most incidents happening during Friday and Saturday nights. The area has an allocated team, formed by one Sergeant and four police officers, to tackle the issue during peak times.
“The district’s Prevention hub has shared with the team the positive impact on that initiative, which only started last December.”
E-bikes:
Sgt Craven said: “The St. Mary’s area experiences a large number of incidents of organised crime and ASB nature, the
latter including the use of illegal e-bikes.
“The neighbourhood team in the area assists during Op Lune, a coordinated response to tackle and reduce antisocial behaviour (ASB) on motorbikes, e-bikes and quadbikes. As a result, the neighbourhood team at St. Mary’s, alongside the Derker neighbourhood team, has successfully removed a handful of illegal e-bikes off the streets of Oldham.”
Community engagement:
Aside from tackling crime, Oldham NPT also speaks to members of the local community and help build trust and confidence.
Neighbourhood officers in the Oldham district carry out regular PACT meetings and surgeries in different places across the district to engage with the community. For instance, the team at St. Mary’s will hold some surgeries at a couple of local schools, where parents can go share their worries and concerns. This is also very effective in gathering intelligence.
The role of an neighbourhood officer is very varied and challenging at times but is also a rewarding one. Sgt Craven, who joined the force 23 years ago and been part of the NPT for five years, added: “The most rewarding part of the role is helping people, getting justice for vulnerable victims of crime and making our communities feel safe.
“We have a good team who are very proactive and committed to their role.”
