Rochdale edition of The Brief – October 2023

RESULTS IN RAIDS ACROSS ROCHDALE

It’s an honour to open this month’s Brief with some thoughts and observations on how Rochdale is performing.

I’ve long held the view that policing is a fairly simple construct – as a service, we respond to calls for help from the public we serve.

Over the years, things have become more complex but our core functions remain the same: we respond to calls for service; we investigate crime; and we work hard to prevent crime from happening in the first place.

We all have a role to play, and it’s really pleasing to note that Rochdale has improved week-on-week how we respond to calls for service, through our Grade 1 and Grade 2 attendance times. We frequently now sit at the top of the force in this area and I will work hard to keep us there.

We are also above average in our solved outcome rate – in particular, domestic abuse, which is a district priority and accounts for over 20% of our overall demand, so to be high performing in this area is really pleasing. The work our DIT teams do, complemented by the E-Hash and Op Relentless staff show that joined up effort in this area is paying dividends.

Our detective teams also work tirelessly to secure charges against dangerous offenders, and each week I’m blown away by their resilience and dedication to get the job done.

Lastly, we are adopting a childcentred approach to policing to reduce the number of children entering the criminal justice system and divert them away from crime and ASB.

Again, Rochdale is leading the way with innovation and new ways of working – and I am confident we will see long-term demand reduction to keep our borough safe and a thriving. place to raise families, work and play.

Superintendent Jim Faulkner

Morning Middleton raid results in drug arrests

Rochdale’s Complex Safeguarding Team gained entry to a property on Pershore Road, Middleton on Wednesday 13 September 2023, to arrest a pair on suspicion of drug offences.

When colleagues entered the home of the 29-year-old man and 27-year-old woman, they found class A drugsnamely cocaine and heroin - worth over £1,000 which were seized, together with a quantity of class B cannabis.

There was also a large amount of cash - approximately £8,000, numerous mobile phone handsets - believed to be used for the sole purpose of drug dealing, as well as machetes. Colleagues also seized two vehicles and an off-road bike.

The warrants, which were under S8 PACE and S23 Misuse of Drugs Act, were carried out following intelligence received in relation to ongoing drug activity in the area.

Detective Sergeant Jessica Bryant of Rochdale’s Complex Safeguarding Team said: “We were able to execute these warrants purely based on the intelligence that we have received from members of the local community.

“Investigations of this nature help keep our communities safe, which is why we proactively pursue all lines of enquiry and continue to encourage members of the public to report information to us.

“As a Force, GMP is committed to investigating any intelligence that we receive and acting on it when appropriate.”

Total members - 1339 5.52% on previous month

Messages sent since March 2023 - 197

July engagement rating - 82.21%

August engagement rating - 79.91%

Proud DS wins national VAWG award

Detective Sergeant Ruth Thompson says that winning a national award for an investigation she led into historic domestic abuse and serious sexual offences was one of the proudest moments of her life.

The Rochdale CID Detective was presented with the Rising Star award at the first National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing recognition event for police officers, staff and volunteers who are working to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The award DS Thompson won at the event held in London in September was in recognition of her work on Operation Cardington.

This saw her lead a group of Rochdale CID Detectives in securing the required level of evidence against dangerous serial offender Andrew Ellison, who was jailed for 24 years and handed an additional four years on licence for the offences he committed against five women from 1995 to 2022.

The offences included rape, assaults, false imprisonment and threats to kill.

DS Thompson (pictured above receiving the Rising Team award from Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, the NPCC’s VAWG co-ordinator) said: “Operation Cardington was a real team effort by Rochdale CID, and I am delighted that the whole team have been shortlisted for our Chief Constable’s Annual Awards, in the Criminal Investigation of the Year category.

“I see the national Rising Team award that I won as further recognition for the work of everyone involved in Operation Cardington. It was a highly complex and challenging investigation, but by working together we managed to uncover the true extent of Andrew Ellison’s offending and secure a substantial prison sentence to prevent him from being able to continue to harm women.”

Under DS Thompson’s leadership, the Op Cardington team meticulously gathered evidence in relation to the original report of rape and domestic abuse, and the four additional victims that were identified by approaching Ellison’s previous partners.

In total, over 100 people were contacted across the North West, which provided the team with a range of information and data to build a watertight case against Ellison (pictured right).

Over 60 witnesses provided statements, and 14 hours of video evidence was captured from the victims.

Supporting the victims and building trust and confidence was crucial to the success of the standout investigation.

DS Thompson said: “I am very proud of the work that I and the amazing Detectives at Rochdale CID did on Op Cardington, and being presented with the Rising Star award was one of the proudest moments of my life and one of the biggest highlights of my policing career to date.

“It was a real honour, but of much more importance is the publicity that the national award win has given to our ongoing work at GMP to tackle violence against women and girls and to make our communities safer.”

Superintendent Neil Jones, GMP’s Domestic Abuse Lead, said: “From the moment the first victim bravely reported domestic abuse in February 2022, DS Ruth Thompson and her exceptional team of Detectives embarked on an extraordinary mission to uncover the extent of Ellison’s appalling offences, unravelling a deeply disturbing pattern of abuse.

“They ensured that the survivor received vital support following the horrific abuse he inflicted on her.

“DS Thompson and her team demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their pursuit, leaving no stone unturned as they delved into Ellison’s history of abusive relationships.

“Remarkably, they uncovered four more survivors who had endured his heinous abuse, reaching back to 1995.

“Operation Cardington is not just a testament to investigative policing, it is a shining example of how a dedicated team can protect survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

“DS Thompson and her team’s efforts illustrate the profound impact of diligent and compassionate law enforcement.”

September Search Month has just finished, with the focus having been on how officers conduct a search of a person, property or vehicle.

The Organisational Learning Hub wanted to highlight the issue, as the team are regularly made aware of instances of ineffective searches resulting in blades and firearms not being discovered – and therefore people being put in danger.

Several issues were raised during September to stress the importance of completing a thorough search.

Ineffective searches can lead to weapons not being found in the initial search, resulting in a dangerous situation for officers and detainees.

The risk is real. Only a few years ago, Metropolitan Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana was shot and killed in a custody suite by a weapon that was concealed by a detainee.

The aim of the month-long focus was to improve standards both on the streets and in custody.

The message to officers was, and remains, ‘if you take extra time, check all areas and follow the process, you can avoid a serious incident from occurring’.

It is also important to report any ‘near misses’ to Health and Safety. These are incidents which had the potential to cause injury to people or loss or damage to equipment or property.

Each near miss must be reported to H&S to help prevent future incidents from occurring and to keep people, equipment and property safe.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle, our local policing lead, said: “The safety of our staff and the public is our number one priority, and completing a thorough search of a person is key to upholding that aim.

“Near miss incidents are a real threat to yourself and others, and we need to improve. They can put people in real danger.

“Effective searches not only reduce the risk of harm but also assist the force

in fighting, preventing and reducing crime by ensuring that evidence is recovered and forensic opportunities are maximised.”

Are you sure you have completed a thorough search?

The importance of a thorough search Enabling people to ‘Bee in the Loop’

More than 15,000 people have signed up to Bee in the Loop since our community messaging system went live in March.

Bee in the Loop gives the communities we serve the opportunity to choose what information they would like to know about, including crime and incidents in their local area.

It is also an invaluable investigative tool, enabling us to appeal for information or intelligence directly to the public to help us solve crimes.

All members of the force are encouraged to sign up to Bee in the Loop, whether they live in Greater Manchester or not. To do so, visit www.beeintheloop.co.uk/#SignUp

We currently have over 400 users trained up to send Bee in the Loop messages across our districts.

Thank you to everyone who has been actively using it to send messages to your communities and replying to people who have aired concerns.

Special thanks go to our top 10 users so far, who are:

• Andrew Hall

• Ryan Chadwick

• Mollie Gibson

• Claire Lucas

• Jonny Cross

• Phillip Jones

• Holly Douglas

• Matthew Honey

• Meena Yasin

• Gareth Edwards.

We would especially like to say a huge thank you to the team across Stockport, who over the past month have increased the number of members they have signed up by almost 30 per cent.

Almost 360 new members have signed up in Stockport, which is a fantastic achievement.

SPoCs continue to be sent business cards which can be given to members of the community during police surgeries, PACT meetings and out on patrol for them to sign up for Bee in the Loop.

We also have posters which can be displayed within community buildings.

With Bee in the Loop being a relatively new service, we are keen to get your feedback on it – what it is like to use, how communities are responding to it and if you have any suggestions on how it can be improved.

To provide feedback, or for support with content or requests for posters for communities, please get in touch with Georgia Holland via georgia.holland@ gmp.police.uk or Jess Allen-Millbank via Jessica.allen-millbank@gmp.police.uk

If you have any questions regarding access to Bee in the Loop, contact Rash Siddiquee via rashed.siddiquee@ gmp.police.uk

Remembering our fallen colleagues

Officers and staff members who died in the line of duty were remembered at the National Police Memorial Day event on Sunday 24 September.

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods attended the ceremony at the New Theatre in Cardiff on behalf of GMP.

Police Constable Alan Ryder was selected as GMP’s standard bearer for the event as officers, staff and families from forces across the UK honoured fallen colleagues.

DCC Woods said: “The National Police Memorial is an important event to ensure that those who have made the ultimate sacrifice are remembered.

“Their self-sacrifice, bravery and dedication to duty, community and country should never be forgotten.”

PC Ryder added: “It was an honour to be GMP’s standard bearer for the ceremony.

“Being able to honour fallen officers and staff in that way was a privilege on what was an emotional day.”

The names of officers who lost their lives over the past year were read out at the event. They are:

• Sussex Police Sergeant Steven Creal, who died on 21 December 2022 at the age of 42

• Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary PCSO Daniel Gower, who died on 23 November 2022 at the age of 20

• Lancashire Constabulary PC Richard James Joseph Kemp, who died on 27 December 2022 at the age of 47

• Hertfordshire Constabulary PC Bruce Lister, who died on 30 January 2023 at the age of 57

• Northumbria Police PC Neil Pattinson, who died on 27 February 2023 at the age of 47

• West Mercia Police PC Andrew Boardman, who died on 11 April 2023 at the age of 43

• Dyfed Powys Police Inspector Gareth Earp, who died on 29 June 2023 at the age of 43

• Nottinghamshire Police Sergeant Graham Saville, who died on 29 August 2023 at the age of 46.

During the service, candles were lit by relatives in remembrance of those who have lost their lives across the UK.

The candles – one from each of the four nations of the UK – serve as a reminder of the undying flame of devotion and commitment, exemplified by those who were remembered during the service.

The newsletter for the event included ‘The Thin Blue Line’ poem, which was written by Elisabeth Carney-Haworth OBE in memory of GMP Inspector Raymond Codling, who was killed on duty on 14 September 1989.

Anyone needing help can get support from our staff support networks, Wellbeing Team and services and Force Chaplain Father Barry Lomax.

You can also call Health Assured on 0800 028 0199 or the GMP Federation Group Insurance Counselling Line on 0800 177 7894.

Chief hails major changes New District Operations teams and us become best performing force

Chief Constable Stephen Watson says that we are on a path to becoming the best performing force in the country after two major changes were implemented to improve the way we operate.

Our new District Operations teams – made up of Response and District Investigations Teams (DITs) – and the Force Crime Management Unit (FCMU) went live in the first week of September to enable us to better respond to the needs of the public, investigate all crimes and improve the standards of investigations and crime recording.

As part of these changes, the force has implemented important improvements to GMP’s crime management processes.

Extensive work has been done across the force to achieve these goals, both in the lead up to the implementation of the changes and since they went live last month.

CC Watson thanked all the teams and individuals for this work when he and Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor Kate Green visited the FCMU once it was up and running with all its teams in place.

He stated to the FCMU staff and the Response and DIT officers from across the force who attended the event that the changes which have been made are ‘hugely exciting’ for the future of GMP and will pave the way for the force to become ‘genuinely outstanding’.

“We’re going to be the best performing force in this country –that’s a realistic aspiration, and we’ll do it in the next couple of years,” CC Watson said during a speech he made at the FCMU, which is based at Unit A opposite FHQ.

“We’ll do it by taking these models and grasping the new insights that they throw up with an open mind, and by being grateful that we are seeing the opportunity to fix things.”

The Deputy Mayor added: “It’s great that these changes have been made to deliver a better service to people in Greater Manchester.

“To do something on the scale that this has been done, and to bring it in so smoothly, is a tremendous achievement. Congratulations to everybody, and thank you very much.”

As with all major changes, a few teething problems have been

encountered. These are being tackled head on, and those leading the new District Operations teams and FCMU are pleased with how the first month has gone and are convinced that the new ways of working will prove to be highly beneficial for both the force and the communities we serve once they are fully embedded and their teams are at full capacity.

Chief Superintendent Chris Goodman-Bowen, the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the District Operations teams, said: “Team GMP have rallied around and implemented this transformational change with a supportive can-do attitude.

“There have been a couple of bumps in the road, but with your continued feedback we will mould this model to deliver the best possible service for the communities of Greater Manchester.”

Detective Superintendent Natalie Dalby, who leads the FCMU teams based at Unit A, said: “We have welcomed over 200 police officers into the branch, and in spite of the significant changes for many in terms of their role, location and new teams, everyone has been really optimistic and engaged.

“We still have to refine our processes and align with wider force governance, but overall it has been a really positive start for us. Thank you much to everyone involved for all your hard work.”

changes made in September and FCMU to help in the country

DISTRICT OPERATIONS

District Operations, which is part of the development of a consistent wider District Operating Model, sees each district having both a dedicated Response Team to respond timely to incidents and a dedicated investigations team (DIT) to improve service and outcomes to victims of crime.

This change has been made to allow us to better focus on responding to incidents while providing care for victims.

FORCE CRIME MANAGEMENT UNIT

The new FCMU is a dedicated central function to consistently record, investigate and finalise crimes.

It has been formed to record more crime at the earliest opportunity; investigate more crime from a desk-based position, to reduce the overall investigative demand on the frontline and districts; improve levels of victim service; and apply consistent and correct outcomes to investigations.

The FCMU is made up of four distinct teams – the Initial Investigation Unit (IIU), Crime Finalisation and Incident Quality Assurance based at Unit A and the Crime Recording and Resolution Unit based at FHQ.

For more information about the two major changes, check out the ‘Force Crime Management Unit and Response Policing’ section of the intranet.

A view from someone working in the new FCMU

Initial Investigation Unit (IIU) Police Constable John Sharp has worked in the Force Crime Management Unit since it went live on Monday 4 September.

He is part of the new team at Unit A who are centrally dealing with the high volume of investigations that are not time critical, have no named suspect and no immediate risk.

PC Sharp (pictured above) was previously a member of the Bury District Investigation Team and was predominately dealing with prisoners, domestic abuse cases and court files.

He said: “Working in the FCMU is very different from my previous role.

“The team, including the supervision, have been very welcoming, and I am enjoying the job and can see how much it will benefit the whole force and the communities we serve moving forward.

“It makes sense for a central team to deal with the initial investigations of the large amount of low-risk crimes that have built up at GMP.

“We rightly have to follow all lines of enquiry for such crimes, which are predominantly criminal damage and theft cases.

“By us doing that centrally at Unit A before passing all the evidence we have gathered to the relevant district, it saves those districts a significant amount of time and resources.

“We have systems in place in the FCMU that enables us to obtain evidence in a quicker and more efficient way, and from speaking to victims of these low-risk crimes as part of our investigations it is clear that the new process is increasing the public’s confidence in policing at GMP.

“Many of the victims I have spoken to were not expecting follow up police contact.

“They are extremely grateful for the work we are doing to solve the crimes they have been subjected to, and when we are simply unable to do that due to a lack of evidence, they appreciate being told that by us over the phone.

“Managing expectations is a big part of an important job that will ensure GMP solves more crimes and brings more offenders to justice.”

GMP Museum welcomes more than 6,000 visitors

The GMP Museum was busier than ever over the school summer holidays, with more than 6,000 people visiting to learn all about policing in Greater Manchester.

The visitors could dress up in officers’ uniform, learn about infamous criminal masterminds across Greater Manchester and take part in a mock trial to determine whether the ‘Big Bad Wolf’ was guilty of blowing the three little pigs’ houses down. Museum Education and Engagement Officer Helen Mallinson said: “It has been lovely to see the museum so busy and full of families learning about policing and having lots of fun at the same time!”

Founded in 1981, the GMP Museum is situated in the middle of Manchester’s famous Northern Quarter.

The Grade II listed building used to be home to Newton Station Police Station, which opened in 1879.

Now, the building not only collects and preserves archive material and objects relating to the history of policing in the Greater Manchester area, it also acts as an important resource for community engagement – visitors can talk to the staff and volunteers about policing.

Following their visit, some people left reviews, with one stating ‘all volunteers made everybody welcome and had some great stories to tell’.

Another wrote: “Ohh we loved it! My five-year-old was sooo happy there. The court case was amazingly fun! I recommend it to everyone!”

The museum at 57A Newton Street, Manchester, is open every Tuesday.

It is also open on Thursdays during school holidays.

Webbs will continue to catch criminals after legend’s retirement

One of the longest serving members of the force retired on Friday 29 September – and his two children who followed him into the GMP family could not be more proud of him for the 47 years of service he has given.

Tony Webb joined the force as an officer in February 1976 and spent 26 of his initial 30 years’ service as a dog handler.

After retiring as a Police Constable in 2006, he rejoined GMP in the same year as an Enquiry Counter Officer based at Tameside, where he remained until his well-earned permanent retirement.

Tony’s two children, PCs Claire and Robert Webb, are the only siblings in our Tactical Firearms Unit.

And Tony’s late dad Roy Webb was also a long-standing member of GMP.

In fact, former Chief Inspector Roy was Tony’s boss when he worked at Oldham’s Q Division.

Claire and Robert, who both joined the force in 2006 and are pictured with Tony above, said: “We are extremely proud of Dad’s achievements and dedicated service to GMP.

“He is a role model and a legend in our eyes and in the eyes of his six grandchildren, who all endure his tales of woe from his policing career.

“They don’t make them like him anymore, but Mum should also get a mention for putting up with him and all

his dogs over the years, as they would retire as pets and, much to her dismay, come to live with us indoors.”

Tony, 66, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my 47 years in the force and would like to thank all my former colleagues for making the experience so special.

“I am very proud to be part of three generations of Webbs to have served GMP, and the family name at the force is being left in very good hands with my two beloved children.”

Tony’s final boss at GMP, Tameside Chief Inspector Claire Galt, said: “Tony is a legend and has served the community at Tameside for 47 years, which is amazing.

“I worked alongside Tony when he was a dog handler at Stalybridge and saw first-hand his dedication and commitment to policing and locking up those who commit crime on our district.

“I wish him a long and happy retirement, albeit he will be sorely missed!”

Tony was just 19 when he joined the force. After his two years’ probation, he did six months in CID at Oldham and then 18 months in plain clothes.

He joined the dog section in 1980 and went on to become one of the longest serving dog handlers in GMP’s history.

Tony covered some historic events as a dog handler, including the miners’ strikes in the 1980s, the Wigan,

Nottinghamshire, Moss Side and Oldham riots, the Strangeways Prison riot and the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Tony loved all his police dogs and achieved legendary status at GMP with the work he did with them.

His daughter Claire says: “After speaking with many dog handlers over the years and officers who Dad worked with on Oldham’s G Division, they remember him as an officer who would always back them up.

“They all say ‘we always knew that we would be okay when Webby turned up with his dog’.”

Wellbeing at Greater Manchester Police

New home for wellbeing

Many of you may have noticed that ‘Wellbeing’ has been added to the top banner of the intranet homepage.

This makes it easier for everyone to access the Wellbeing pages and the help and support that is available.

The Wellbeing pages have recently had a revamp, making them more user friendly and accessible for all.

All internal and external support is now easier to find and access, as is the new Wellbeing Strategy and details of the Wellbeing Calendar.

for the course, search for ‘Empowered Conversations, dementia’ on the internet.

WellFest Virtual Wellbeing Festival

Devon and Cornwall Police has opened its WellFest Virtual Wellbeing Festival up to GMP and all other forces across the country this year.

You can choose from more than 60 virtual sessions covering all areas of wellbeing.

Running from Monday 9 October to Friday 20 October, the festival includes a virtual trip to the zoo, talks on resilience and determination and live cookery classes, as well as dedicated sessions on the menopause on World Menopause Day (Wednesday 18 October).

Federation Maternity Open Day

The Greater Manchester Police Federation Maternity Open Day was held at Progress House in Stockport in September.

As always, the event was a big success.

If you have not taken the opportunity to attend one of these days, they are very informative, not just for officers and staff who are about to embark on maternity leave but for line managers too.

Wellbeing Volunteer Co-ordinator

Rhian Hurst (pictured above), who has recently returned to work after maternity leave, brought her son with her to the open day to help promote the wellbeing services available.

She also shared her experience of maternity leave at the event.

Empowered Conversations

There is a free course launching for family caregivers of people with dementia in Greater Manchester.

It aims to encourage people to have meaningful conversations around dementia and increase their confidence in how to do this.

The course also provides advice on self-care.

An hour-long Empowered Conversations introductory session will be held from 3pm on Thursday 5 October.

The course lasts for six weeks, with each of the main sessions taking place between 7pm and 9pm from Thursday 2 November.

For more information, or to sign up

Visit the Oscar Kilo website for details of how to register for any of the sessions being held over Microsoft Teams.

Awareness in October

October is National Cholesterol Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Sunday 1 October also marks the start of Go Sober for October.

The month also sees a number of awareness days and weeks, including:

• Dyslexia Awareness Week:

Monday 2 October to Sunday

8 October

• Baby Loss Awareness Week:

Monday 9 October to Sunday

15 October

• World Menopause Day: Wednesday 18 October

Supporting our armed forces community

The fourth Supporting Our Armed Forces Recognition Event was held at FHQ in September.

Hosted by Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes, the strategic lead for GMP’s Armed Forces Network, the annual event shines a light on the work done nationally to support our armed forces.

It also reflects on GMP’s local involvement and celebrates those who have gone above and beyond to support the armed forces community and individual veterans.

The all-day event was attended by Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham, who thanked all the police forces that were represented for their continued armed forces support and stated that it is a ‘source of pride’ that GMP remains a Gold standard organisation as part of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

The afternoon saw recognition awards presented to key individuals within GMP’s Armed Forces Network.

The recognition awards and the winners were:

• Selfless Commitment (ensuring vulnerable veterans get support): Pauline MaCinnes and Police Constable Gary Manville.

• Creating and Delivering Veterans Crisis Training: Detective Sergeant Craig Morgan.

• Commitment to Raising Awareness and Support for our Veteran and Reservist Student Officers: Frank Rutter.

• Dedication to Supporting our Veterans and Reservists: Emma Richards.

• Going Above and Beyond: PC Warren Yates.

• Locating a High-Risk Missing Veteran at Risk of Suicide: PCs Ben Southern and Helen Barnes.

For more details and photographs of the event, check out the ‘Supporting our armed forces’ article on the intranet.

999 day comes to Rochdale

On Saturday 9 September officers and staff from Rochdale came together to show support for Emergency Services Day – a national event paying tribute to the thousands of people who work and volunteer across the emergency services and NHS.

The event is celebrated annually, beginning at 9am (the 9th hour, of the 9th day, of the 9th month) - which is why it’s also referred to as 999 Day.

The action-packed day saw officers, staff and members of the public pay tribute to and celebrate the exceptional work that emergency services workers do on a day-to-day basis to support the people of Greater Manchester.

The event started at The Riverside in Rochdale, with Reverend Margaret Smith, the event lead, reading a short passage and leading a prayer.

Throughout the day, there were a variety of community engagement inputs from colleagues across the force, including the Tactical Aid Unit, Firearms Unit, Tactical Mounted Unit, Traffic Unit and recruitment, as well as a performance from the GMP band.

The North West Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were also in attendance, and provided demonstrations of a variety of scenarios where life-saving could be used and a tour of of emergency services’ vehicles.

Aside from the glorious September sunshine, the appearance of competition winners from local schools to collect their certificates and goodie bags - which included pencils, colouring pages, snap bands encouraging road safety, and other crime prevention material - was a

highlight of the day.

As part of the competition, pupils had to draw an ambulance, fire engine, or police vehicle, with the drawings now framed and ready to take pride of place in Rochdale Police Station.

A word from Sergeant Matthew Honey

Sergeant Matthew Honey of Heywood’s Neighbourhood Policing Team took charge in November 2022, and soon realised that the community lacked trust and confidence in the police.

Over the last 10 months, Sergeant Honey and his team have introduced new initiatives to combat the issue, which include:

• Community walk arounds

• Community open days

• A drive on the publication of good news on across local social media accounts and Bee in the Loop

• Hosting regular Sergeant Surgeries

• Increased use of specials and cadets

• Increased traffic, burglary, and plain clothes operations

• Regular school visits

• Notifying residents of outcomes and good news via letters, social media posts and community meetings, in a ‘you said, we did’ format.

When speaking to Sergeant Honey about the introduction of the proactive policing initiatives, he said: “Essentially, I wanted my team to go back to good

old-fashioned neighbourhood policing, that puts the needs of the community as the focal point.

“An example of this was the recent walk around with local councillors in Darnhill, which has previously been a hard-to-reach community with residents having become disengaged over time. During the visit, we spoke with almost 100 residents, from which have subsequently seen a surge in Bee in the Loop sign-ups.

“The aim of the initiatives is to show a united front when it comes to tackling issues in hotspot areas. I will rotate each ward every month, to ensure we cover all three regularly. We will introduce ourselves as key community contacts, give residents the opportunity and appropriate platform to raise issues directly and increase the number of sign-ups to Bee in the Loop - as it will help to instil community confidence by promoting the good work that we are carrying out.

“By analysing crime trends and data, taking information from our local community meetings, and asking partners where issues are occurring, we will build an informed picture of where our efforts need to be concentrated.

“With improved partner relations, we will be able to direct concerns and complaints around non-policing matters to the relevant partner agency, which in turn, will help reduce demand as it will enable us to focus on policing matters, such as crime and anti-social behaviour.

“Since implementing the new strategy and initiatives, the feedback from councillors, local businesses and the wider community has been extremely positive, which is pleasing to see.”

DS Ruth Thompson hailed a ‘Rising Star’ at VAWG event

“This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing team of detectives who supported me throughout Operation Cardington. I am immensely grateful for their dedication and hard work, and I also want to express my profound gratitude to the five brave victims of domestic abuse who stood by us.

extent of Andrew Ellison’s appalling offences, unravelling a deeply disturbing pattern of abuse inflicted upon the first reported victim.

“They ensured that the survivor received vital support following the horrific abuse he inflicted on her.

One of our detectives has won a national award for Operation Cardington, the investigation she led into historic domestic abuse and serious sexual offences involving five victims from 1995 to 2022.

Detective Sergeant Ruth Thompson was presented with the Rising Star Award at the first National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing recognition event for police officers, staff and volunteers who are working to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG).

This saw her lead a group of Rochdale CID detectives in securing the required level of evidence against dangerous serial offender Andrew Ellison, who was jailed for 24 years and handed an additional four years on licence for the following offences:

• Six counts of rape

• Six counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm

• Four counts of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment

• Four counts of false imprisonment

• Two counts of assault by penetration

• Two counts of making threats to kill

• One count of attempted sexual assault

• One count of inflicting grievous bodily harm

• One count of damaging property

• One count of exposure.

DS Thompson said: “I am incredibly happy and honoured to have received the Rising Star Award.

“Protecting survivors and seeking justice has been the driving force behind my work, and I truly love what I do. Together, we can make a difference to the lives of those affected by domestic abuse and safeguard people across Greater Manchester.”

Operation Cardington was first launched in February 2022, following a catalogue of rape, domestic abuse, and violence disclosures from a woman in her 30s in Middleton, Rochdale.

Following the arrest of Ellison on Thursday 31 March 2022, enquiries were made into his domestic history, which unearthed a further four victims who had been abused by Ellison in separate relationships, dating back to 1995.

With the support and bravery of all five victims, the Operation Cardington taskforce dedicated their efforts to ensuring that they all received justice and the support they needed.

Skilled and specially trained interviewers conducted two separate interviews with Ellison’s victims, covering nearly 14 hours of audio.

More than 60 witnesses provided the team with statements, with over 100 people being contacted across the North West.

This provided the investigation team with a full range of information and data; enabling them to build a strong case against Ellison.

The evidence gathered, analysed and put forward to the Crown Prosecution Service resulted in Ellison’s substantial custodial sentence.

Superintendent Neil Jones, GMP’s Domestic Abuse lead, said: “From the moment the first victim bravely reported domestic abuse in February 2022, DS Ruth Thompson, and her exceptional team of detectives, embarked on an extraordinary mission to uncover the

“DS Thompson and her team demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their pursuit, leaving no stone unturned as they delved into Ellison’s history of abusive relationships.

“We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to all five women who, with incredible courage, supported this arduous case.

“Thanks to their collective bravery, DS Thompson and her team successfully built an ironclad case against an exceedingly dangerous individual, ultimately removing Ellison from the community.

“Operation Cardington is not just a testament to investigative policing; it is a shining example of how a dedicated team can protect survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

“DS Thompson and her team’s efforts are a beacon of hope, illustrating the profound impact of diligent and compassionate law enforcement.”

The recognition event was developed and judged jointly by police forces and representatives from charities – including SafeLives, Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Karma Nirvana – alongside the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Nicole Jacobs, and police staff associations.

More than 140 entries were received, which were initially judged regionally by police and third sector panels, before being put in front of a national panel, who decided the 13 overall winners.

All winning entries had to demonstrate how they built trust and confidence, that their approach was victim-centred, and they also had to show impact, including how they pursue perpetrators.

The judges were impressed with the effectiveness of many of the entries, giving praise to the officers, staff and volunteers who listened to victims and survivors - and then went on to shape their activity accordingly.