District Operating Model lands on district
The District Operating Model (DOM) went live on Monday 25 November 2024. To mark the occasion, ACCs took to districts to show their support for officers and staff as those affected by the changes began adjusting to their new ways of working.
The morning of the launch, Local Policing and Prevent portfolio ACC Matt Boyle spent his time in Bolton to support those arriving on the first shift of the day. While ensuring all those in scope of the changes had access to the DOM guide and online hub, he asked questions and welcomed feedback about the model.
Lead for the Protecting Vulnerable People portfolio ACC Steph Parker visited Swinton, and Director of IT and Digital ACO Dougie Henderson spent time in Oldham. While on district, all ACCs took the time to meet with fellow district commanders and partake in walk-arounds, engaging with the officers and staff who were navigating changes that day.
We spoke to ACC Steph Parker, who said: “It is great to be here showing support. With protecting vulnerable people being a priority focus for me, I have a real interest in the formal establishment of the domestic abuse teams (DAT).
“These new teams will allow complex domestic abuse investigations to be investigated by dedicated and enthusiastic individuals, who now have more time to protect victims of DA and
effectively bring DA perpetrators to justice. The new alignment between CID and DIT also ensures PIP2 experience is on hand to support PIP1 investigators.”
Visiting Oldham on the day of launch, ACO Henderson commented: “The DOM is integral to ensuring we fulfil our promises and priorities to the people of Greater Manchester. The new structure will not only ensure we provide a better service, which will in turn improve the public’s trust and confidence; it will also ensure our own internal teams are informed and understand the structure, so areas such as IT know where to target and align transformation efforts.”
Salford’s newly appointed District Commander, Ch Supt Neil Blackwood, said: “In terms of timings, the DOM’s new structure has landed well, coinciding with GMP’s seven new district commanders, which couldn’t be better for the integral structure of district policing.”
Several officers have shared positive feedback about the recent changes:
• DIT officer PC Nicholas Hughes told us: “I am optimistic about the changes.”
• DAT officer PC Danielle Powell highlighted the improved manageability of shifts, saying: “I think my shifts will be easier to manage under the new structure.”
• DIT sergeant Jody Island noted: “Under the new structure, my team
seems more manageable.”
• PC Stacey Nolan remarked: “I think it’s good that there is a domestic abuse team because DA has had its challenges.”
• DAT officer Amy Barrett praised the proactive approach of the DIT, emphasising its “dedicated focus on victims.”
When asked about the launch and the expectations for the DOM, ACC Boyle said, “This is a great day for the DOM initiative. It has been a challenge to get to this point, and I must extend my thanks to all involved in the planning and execution of it.
“The team responsible for delivering the DOM consisted of both operational officers and non-operational staff, who designed a model with operational policing and its officers at the heart of it. Our priority has always been to make policing fair across the board, both for officers, staff, and the people each district serves. Policing should be the same for everybody—stamping out the postcode lottery is key to achieving public trust and confidence across the Greater Manchester region.
“I look forward to following the journey.”
Senior responsible officer Ch Supt Chris Goodman-Bowen commented: “After months of research, analysis, and consultation, I am confident that we have a model that will deliver district policing that works for everyone!”
Meet Sedgley – GMP’s force cat
Sedgley Cat has been living at the Sedgley Park complex since 2019. There are various stories of how he came to be here, but he was a stray who came to visit and ended up adopting us as his family and staying.
Sedgley spends his days patrolling the site and visiting his favourite people for food and attention. He can often be found walking in the parade areas with the student officers and gravitates to where people are as he loves to be fussed over. He is famous here at Sedgley Park – anyone that has been on a training course will have met him at one time or another.
Sedgley waits patiently at doors to be let inside so he can visit one of his feeding spots or come and visit a classroom where he will sit listening intently to the lesson. Once he has had enough, he will find a nice spot to have a snooze after his busy day. Each evening as the complex empties, he heads over
A winter’s tail
The start of December saw a newly trained cohort of keen canines take part in a passing-out parade to mark the start of their policing duties at GMP.
The new cohort, who were joined by their handlers from the Tactical Dog Unit (TDU), enjoyed an afternoon of praise and recognition as they celebrated the start of their new careers. Special recognition was given to the cohort’s top-performing pup, Argo, who was also awarded the Craig Higgins Memorial Trophy, along with his handler PC Peter Johnson, for their
to the gatehouse where he helps the security staff with their evening duties. Sedgley is a well-known fixture here at Sedgley Park and even has his own Facebook page where staff can post pictures of his daily activities.
Sedgley is a wonderful addition to the policing family here at Sedgley Park, and for many he evokes a sense of nostalgia to bygone times when every station had a cat. He is the perfect wellbeing ambassador and makes sure that he checks on his family every day; the only payment he requires is a few treats along the way. He’s always a good talking point with new students and officers coming to the site as he certainly walks around like he’s in charge.
He does come with a slight health warning: please do not try tickling his belly, as he really doesn’t like that.
Sedgley brings a smile to many people’s faces every day and is sure to brighten your day if you meet him.
consistent performance.
GMP dog handlers and their canines, who are operationally referred to as general purpose dogs (GPDs), are deployed to a wide variety of both planned and spontaneous incidents. Officers from the TDU assist districts and other units within the specialist operations branch with armed and unarmed operations. Just as we do with our new police recruits, these furry additions to the force were subject to a photoshoot to mark the occasion. Here is the result; you’re welcome.
Grappling with victory
DCI Rick Thompson of GMP’s Prevention branch has achieved dual gold this year in national Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) competitions.
Rick competed in the gi BJJ (competitors wear a traditional gi – a belted kimono – and clothing can be gripped for traction during holds) and no-gi BJJ (competitors wear a rash guard top and shorts; the clothing cannot be held) British Open Championship tournaments in the Master 3, middle heavyweight black belt division, winning the gold in both categories.
Along with DCI Martin Ashurst, Rick is part of running the GMP grappling team, which trains out of Bolton’s Grapple Clinic and Stealth BJJ in Oldham. The team currently meets to train once or twice a month and will be joining up with the GMP judo team at Hough End in the near future.
While the grappling team itself is relatively new, many of its members are seasoned grapplers; and they are looking to improve their GMP team ethos by meeting more for training and entering competitions as a team – if you are interested in
joining or have any questions about grappling, please contact Rick at Richard.Thompson@gmp.police.uk or Martin at Martin. Ashurst@gmp.police.uk. 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/Membership-Forms. aspx.
National recognition for GMP football police
GMP was victorious in three of the six categories on offer at the first annual National Football Policing Awards.
Specialist Operations Ch Supt Colette Rose was presented with her award for football leader of the year by Cheshire Constabulary Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs’ Council football policing lead, at the awards event in Birmingham in November; while PC Matt Ford (excellence in football policing) and Sp Insp Matt Saville (unsung hero), who were both unable to attend, received their awards from Ch Con Roberts at an honorary celebration at GMP Force HQ.
Ch Supt Colette Rose – football leader of the year
Ch Supt Rose’s citation noted the difficulty of pursuing a strong passion in football policing, traditionally a very male-dominated field, as a woman; and held up Ch Supt Rose as an example of the kind of strong female role model that other women benefit from in these circumstances. It said: “Throughout her career, she has paved the way for others who follow behind her in demonstrating how exceptional females can be in these roles, having the highest of standards and becoming an influential and inspiring leader within this field.”
The citation highlighted Ch Supt Rose’s work in Germany this summer as Head of Delegation for the 2024 European Championships, where she was able to demonstrate leadership, high-level preparation and negotiation skills, all while maintaining her role at the time as Trafford district commander.
While in this role, she established relationships with key stakeholders at Manchester United to adopt novel problem-solving techniques in football policing, which have now been rolled out across GMP clubs and districts.
Her citation says: “Colette also acts as a force mentor, encouraging others to develop their own skills, abilities, and confidence – sharing her own experiences, both positive and negative, to enable learning and growth as a POPS Commander within the field of football policing. Her advice is authentic and honest, she holds others accountable and will professionally challenge but is empathetic and supportive throughout. She is a true role model, operationally credible and an exceptional football leader.”
PC Matt Ford – excellence in football policing
Football Banning Order (FBO) officer
PC Ford has personally applied for and secured 134 FBOs between August 2022 and April 2024. In the last year alone, he has personally submitted 48 prosecution files and supervised the submission of a further 85, resulting in the sanctioning of 128 individuals.
PC Ford works in close liaison with colleagues both within and outside GMP, bridging the gap between matchday crime Bronzes, Custody and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and providing assistance to other forces including Lancashire and Cumbria. He has delivered several presentations to staff, developed a detailed guide to investigations for practitioners, and established working groups with his local CPS prosecution teams.
His citation reads: “His dedication has resulted in a significant impact to the reduction of violence and disorder at football fixtures, not just locally but nationally…Matthew’s determination, knowledge and expertise in this subject is second to none, making a huge contribution towards making football stadiums a safer place.
Sp Insp Matt Saville – unsung hero
After 19 years with GMP’s Special Constabulary, Sp Insp Saville is due to retire this year – a development described in his awards citation as ‘a sad loss to football policing in GMP’. He was deployed for 15 years as an operational football officer (previously known as a football spotter), covering Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers fixtures.
When serious disorder occurred in Failsworth in October 2022 following a match between Oldham and Wrexham AFC, and again when similar disorder occurred at a Chesterfield-Oldham match, Sp Insp Saville was the first officer on scene, putting himself in harm’s way to protect members of the public and using baton tactics to disperse groups in order to prevent further violence. He was then involved in the post-match investigations and the offender identification process, all in his own personal time.
His awards citation concluded: “As someone who gives his time voluntarily to police his local community and local football team, I can think no one better than Matt to receive this award for his dedication, attitude, professionalism and selfless work ethic in keeping the communities of Manchester safe.”
Father Barry awarded Catholic Police Guild fellowship
GMP lead chaplain Father Barry Lomax has been made a Fellow of the Catholic Police Guild, the highest honour the Guild can bestow.
The ceremony took place at the Annual Catholic Police Guild National Requiem Mass held in Westminster Cathedral, London on Thursday 7 November. National Guild Chair Paul Connolly stated in his citation that the fellowship was being awarded to “someone who has provided long and meritorious service or in some special way has enhanced the standing of the Guild.”
Father Barry said: “I was honoured to receive the fellowship from Rt Rev Alan Williams SM, Bishop of Brentwood. It came as a complete surprise to me, and
the citation read aloud in the Cathedral by Paul Connolly was moving to hear.”
On this occasion, the Guild’s National Executive Committee voted unanimously to present the award to Father Barry, who has served as a police chaplain with Greater Manchester Police since 2001, when he became a Divisional Chaplain to Oldham (Q Division). In 2016 he became chaplain to GMP’s Sedgley Park training school, along with the Claytonbrook training facility and Hough End; before becoming the first fulltime force lead chaplain for GMP in 2023.
However, it would be fair to say that his chaplaincy wasn’t just restricted to those locations, and his distribution of chocolate limes has become
something of a GMP institution – police chaplaincy supports those of all faiths and of none.
Paul Connolly added: “Since 2013, Father Barry has been the national chaplain to the Catholic Police Guild and his help and advice to me, my predecessors as Chair and those both in the Guild and not in the Guild, can never be measured.
“I know for certain that over the many years of service, both to his home force and the Guild nationally, he has offered his guidance and wise counsel and can be counted upon always to be available and to act as a sounding board and a true confidant to all.”
Congratulations to Father Barry from all of us at GMP!
Meet the motorcycle unit
GMP’s motorcycle unit has now officially launched.
The unit, consisting of an inspector, two sergeants and 12 constables working across two teams, will provide a roads policing function aimed at reducing the number of casualties who are killed and seriously injured (KSI) in road collisions through highvisibility patrols, enforcement and driver education, focusing on the ‘fatal four’ offences: speeding; drink and drug driving; driving while distracted; and failure to wear a seatbelt. It will also support districts and departments in tackling antisocial use of motorcycles and the use of motorcycles during criminality.
The unit operates a mixed fleet of motorcycles, including the traditional BMW R1250 RT for roads policing; as
well as a marked BMW GS and Yamaha Ténéré, enabling officers to patrol harder to reach areas such as footpaths, canals and fields.
However, while the unit has a small fleet of off-road bikes, it is not a dedicated off-road unit, and only a small number of its officers are qualified to ride off-road.
Motorcycle unit Insp Paul Cox said: “It’s fantastic that GMP now has an established motorcycle unit, with 25 bikes and 13 officers in the team, playing a key role in high profile force and public events. It’s a varied dayto-day role, with opportunities for development within the unit, such as offroad training and VIP escort training.”
The motorcycle unit offers:
• A year-round dedicated forcewide response to Operation Camenca, tackling nuisance off-road motorcycling.
• High visibility enforcement support to all divisions and road policing units, through the use of liveried motorcycles.
• Assistance to the Special Escort Group with outrider duties where escorts necessitate the use of motorcycles.
• Support to all neighbourhoods which require assistance with any roads policing enforcement activity.
Please be aware that due to demand across the force for motorcycle support, districts must request support for antisocial behaviour and other motorcycle-related issues via the form tasking process.
Mental health 1157 app set for launch
On Tuesday 10 December 2024, GMP will launch an exciting new app: the MH 1157 app, which will replace the paper 1157 forms.
In accordance with GM force policy and the Chief Constable’s Orders 2022/27, officers must complete the 1157 information when taking a person to hospital when the following types of encounters have occurred:
• Section 136 MHA detention
• Section 135 warrant executed
• Taken to hospital voluntarily for a mental health concern
• Mental Capacity Act encounter where the police has been the decisionmaker
The app, which can now be found through the ‘GMP apps’ section on MS Teams, was initially piloted among
Tameside A relief response officers. Following its success, the pilot was then extended to Bury officers. It offers a number of benefits in comparison to the paper form:
• Quick and easy to complete and send
• Can be accessed anywhere from a mobile phone or laptop, via the MS Teams app
• Offers the option to save as a draft and return to complete later on
• Copy and paste facility from laptop entries
• Ability to access data in real time
• Electronic audit trail of information shared
Once an officer has completed the MH 1157 app while at hospital, the submit button will automatically populate the 1157 form and send it to the officer’s
email address as an attachment. This email can then be forwarded to the NHS staff member who will be responsible for taking care of the person. If you encounter any issues accessing the app, you can submit the relevant information using the old paper 1157 form until the issue is resolved – remember, it is crucial that the NHS staff members who are going to be looking after the person receives this information. 1157 submissions are being monitored and failure to do submit information correctly may result in disciplinary action. The MH 1157 app has been developed by the M365 team and the Mental Health Coordination Unit – Prevention Branch. If you have any queries or feedback regarding the app, please contact MentalHealth@gmp.police.uk.
Programme Challenger County Lines Intensification Week
In November Programme Challenger, our multi-agency approach to tackling organised crime in Greater Manchester, held a week of action on county lines crime. Challenger teams carried out a number of warrants and arrests targeting identified county lines and drug phone lines, operated by different organised crime groups (OCGs) and individuals supplying class A drugs.
Officers executed 39 warrants, resulting in 54 arrests. More than £26,500 of cash was seized and over £553,000 worth of drugs were taken off the streets, resulting in 22 drugs lines being closed. Seized drugs included crack, heroin, cocaine and cannabis, THC vapes, cannabis edibles, ecstasy tablets, ketamine, steroids and amphetamine. Officers also seized 25 bladed articles, three firearms and 39 rounds of ammunition.
Educational programmes were delivered to school students across the Greater Manchester area. In collaboration with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), a total of 38 children were safeguarded, as well as 25 adults. Seven national referral mechanisms were submitted to support potential victims of modern slavery and 13 visits were made to properties which had been invaded by criminals.
The week of action coincided with the launch of North West Regional Organised Crime Unit’s ‘Eyes Open’ county lines campaign, which was supported by GMP. The campaign aims to educate communities on the grooming tactics that criminal gangs use and to protect vulnerable children from exploitation.
Det Supt Joe Harrop of GMP’s Programme Challenger said: “We are continuing to do all we can to disrupt drug lines, which bring misery to our communities in the form of drug dealing and violence. The results we secured during this week of action are outstanding, with a significant number of warrants executed, arrests made and dangerous weapons taken off the streets and away from harming people.”
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities, commented: “County lines is an abhorrent form of grooming that preys on the young and vulnerable. We all have a responsibility to prevent it and take action when it does happen. That’s why Programme Challenger is so important, as it brings together police, local authorities, criminal justice agencies and the voluntary sector to educate and steer young people away from crime, but also take robust action against the organised criminal gangs who hide behind the victims doing their bidding.”
National recognition for GMP communications and staff engagement
GMP’s Corporate Communications and Engagement Branch was shortlisted in two competitive categories at the Association of Police Communicators (APComm) Recognition Awards 2024, which were presented at the annual ApComm Academy on Wednesday 27 November.
Media manager Rebecca Moss was a close runner-up for the Inspirational Leader award. Since joining GMP in early 2023, Rebecca has successfully led the team through several highprofile and critical cases, including the 2024 CSE assurance review in Rochdale, and sensitive internal communications matters. Her leadership has been crucial in rebuilding stakeholder trust and developing victim-focused communication strategies.
The force’s internal Engagement and Improvement Panel (EIP), led by the Staff Engagement and Internal Communications team, was recognised in the Employee Engagement Initiative category. The employee-led panel was launched in early 2024 based on feedback submitted to the
2023 GMP Staff Survey, and its first wave has already delivered a number of significant and ongoing improvements.
Wave 1 of the EIP identified key areas for enhancement, including leadership support, recognition programmes, workplace environments, and progression opportunities. These findings have been presented to district and branch senior leaders and the Senior Command Team.
Wave 2 is now live: following the same routine as Wave 1, a feedback form was made available throughout November for officers and staff to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas for change within their branch and district. The Staff Engagement team will now compile a detailed summary, identifying potential quick wins as well as longer-term improvement areas. This summary will then be presented to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), who will review the findings and prioritise actions based on urgency and impact; while broader report, providing a comprehensive overview of the feedback received, will be shared with the Senior Command Team.
Emergency evacuation of GMP buildings
• In the event of an evacuation, your safety is the top priority. Please follow the fire evacuation procedure and leave the premises by your nearest safe exit.
• ONLY if it is safe to do so, and without delaying your emergency exit, take your laptop with you for business continuity to work from another location or from home. Do not delay yourself by gathering charging cables/mouse/other work items.
• Again, you should only take your laptop/belongings with you if doing so will not compromise your safety.
Wellbeing at Greater Manchester Police
People may experience an array of different feelings in the run-up to Christmas and the winter period: while some may feel excited, others can feel apprehensive about the coming weeks.
Not everyone celebrates Christmas, but for many it allows us time to reflect and be thankful for what we have.
When we look back on the Christmas celebrations we have particularly enjoyed in the past, it is rarely the gifts or the food that first come to mind – instead, we think about the people we were with and the traditions that were created.
With this in mind, while many people may feel pressure to splurge unnecessarily on gifts, food or festive celebrations, please do remember that it’s not essential.
If money is tight, consider setting a budget: focus on spending time with loved ones as opposed to giving presents, cooking for family and friends rather than eating out, or making your own decorations at home.
Please be mindful of others over the coming weeks, as this time of year can be hard for some, and some people may need more support. Remember many helplines are open 365 days a year, including Health Assured (0800 128 0199) and the Samaritans (116 123).
If you go out to celebrate the season, whether with friends or colleagues, remember that you are still representing GMP when off duty and think about quality, standards and behaviour.
At this time of year many people drink more than they might usually do; at GMP our open, supportive alcohol support group asks the question: what is your relationship with alcohol?
If you’re interested or would like support with your relationship with alcohol, you can access their intranet page through Home > Wellbeing > Internal support > Staff support networks > Informal support groups.
THE BLUELIGHT ALCOHOL EXPERIMENT
Would you like to learn about alcohol consumption and its effects, as well as learning more about prioritising health, wellbeing, lowering stress, increasing energy and improving your sleep and overall productivity? If so, the Bluelight experiment might be for you.
The experiment currently runs each January and encourages anyone across policing and other emergency services (or their friends and family) to take an informed break from the booze by offering daily content, live coaching and comradeship to educate you on alcohol and ways to cut down. Bonus webinars each weekend feature guest experts, authors and speakers who will answer questions on alcohol, sleep, depression, fitness, metabolism, weight loss and so much more. You can find out more by searching ‘Bluelight experiment’ on the GMP intranet.
POLICE MUTUAL FREE PRIZE DRAW
Enter Police Mutual’s prize draw by Sunday 15 December 2024 for your chance to win one of three prizes: 1st Prize - £3,000 cash - 2nd Prize - £2,000 cash - 3rd Prize - £1,000 cash
You can enter the draw at https://bit.ly/3YbyMLA.
Full terms and conditions can be found at https://bit. ly/46dqDZ5.
If you would like more support, please see our wellbeing intranet page, which can signpost you to an array of resources. You can also contact the team directly at WellbeingVolunteerCoordinators@gmp.police.uk.
We wish you all a very happy Christmas and a happy New Year, whatever your festive activities may be. If you are working, stay safe; and if you are home with loved ones, enjoy those moments and savour them, building new traditions and keeping old ones alive.
