This edition of the district Brief focuses on wellbeing.
It is important to take care of our physical and mental health so that we can flourish in life as well at work: somewhere we spend a great deal of our time.
Districts are offering colleagues various resources and facilities to help us care for our wellbeing, such as sports and social club (S&S) equipment to borrow, gyms, activity days, wellbeing rooms, tuck shops and more.
Please, take advantage of these, they are there for you whether you may need to take a breather, share your stresses, get some exercise or simply connect with others in a suitable environment.
Designated wellbeing single points of contact (SPOCs) are assigned in each district to assist you with anything wellbeingrelated, to ensure you have the support you need to feel happy, balanced, safe and valued in your working environment.
GMP’s goal is to create a positive and inclusive workplace environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally.
The force recognises that policing is both a rewarding and challenging career and, as such, has developed a wealth of resources, internal and external support, and access to a range of toolkits to help you prioritise selfcare, manage stress, and foster a healthy work-life balance.
You can find more information regarding our support networks, informal support groups and wellbeing volunteering initiatives by speaking to your dedicated wellbeing SPOC or via the intranet. Use these resources and ensure you are prioritising your wellbeing as well as knowing who to reach out to when you may need support.
In this edition, we want to celebrate our colleagues who are supporting each other’s wellbeing as well as looking after the wellbeing of the people who live and work in our local communities. Thank you.
Rochdale Special receives award for her incredible work
Special Sergeant Jemma Mallon has received the Rochdale Special Award for her incredible work and commitment that she has shown during her three years at GMP.
Jemma first thought about becoming an officer when she was younger –inspired by her dad who worked in Heywood and Middleton.
Jemma said she simply joined to see if “she was up to the challenge” – and has since managed to get her teeth into numerous cases and projects to assist in her development.
Motivated by ensuring a safer community, she feels that since starting a family she needs to do her part in making the community a better place.
During her time working in Rochdale, Jemma has encountered her fair share of police work, and we asked her to share her favourite moment so far.
She said: “It’s hard to pick just one. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working in response as it’s a fast paced and highly demanding environment. More recently, I have been enjoying working on the neighbourhood side where I get to deal with more complex issues and have time to really get stuck into gathering intelligence by working
closely with the community to crack down on child criminal exploitation, and ultimately, safeguarding children.”
When it comes to facing challenges in her role, she says: “Communication and connection with my colleagues, supervision and members of the public is key. I am always looking for ways to learn and better myself in what I do.”
One of the most rewarding aspects for Jemma is that it allows her to help people during their time of need. She further adds: “I love the team that I work with and am proud to be apart of the police family.”
Since receiving this award, Mallon is now an acting Specials Sergeant, she said: “Being a Special Constable has opened up opportunities within GMP. I am now a Trim Practitioner and am really passionate about this role and am grateful to the specials constabulary for giving me this opportunity.”
Meet GMP’s Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit
Police negotiators are highly trained specialist communicators who can be deployed to save life, reduce the threat to life or implement a communications tactic. Negotiators are also trained to undertake discreet and/or covert interactions if required.
The use of a negotiator can be a valuable resource in a variety of situations: they will focus on the negotiation and communication aspects of an incident and provide assessments that support an incident commander’s decision-making and development of other tactical options. Negotiators can also be deployed remotely through telephone or instant messaging services, such as text, email, or social media.
The team provides the organisation with a 24/7/365 response to ensure that any threat to life is dealt with in accordance with national guidelines. Incidents may include:
• Suicide intervention – where an individual is threatening self-harm.
• Person in crisis or domestic siege – a spontaneous incident where a person is detained against their will. People in these circumstances
are often in crisis and/or under the influence of a substance which has affected their ability to respond in a rational or logical manner.
• Firearm operations – supporting operations such as the execution of a search warrant where firearms are known to be held, or where there is a threat of violence. The negotiator can encourage the suspect to allow peaceful, rather than forced, entry.
• Criminal sieges – including, for example, where a bank robbery is interrupted by the arrival of the police and where members of the public are being held by the offenders.
• Counter-terrorism incidents and investigations – the team has several specialist counter-terrorism (CT) negotiators to support CT policing operations.
The GMP Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit (HCNU) currently has an establishment of 30 trained negotiators, headed by force lead DCI Paddy Goodrich, deputy force lead Insp John Ormerod, and DS Craig Morgan, a full-time negotiator based in the Serious Crime Division. The team reports to the GMP strategic lead for negotiation, ACC Matt Boyle.
Hostage negotiators perform a demanding, specialised role in addition to their respective core duties within the organisation. The role requires dedication and commitment from each team member to maintain accreditation by deploying to incidents and attending CPD events and exercises.
It is important that each negotiator is always ready to perform at the best of their abilities so that they are prepared to deal with complex, often rapidly evolving situations at short notice and potentially save lives. It is often the case that extra support is needed, due to multiple ongoing incidents or complex sieges or investigations.
The GMP negotiator team is made
up from officers from across all districts and branches. The role is not rankspecific; in line with national guidance, GMP has opened the role to constables, with several PCs already passing the demanding initial two-week national negotiators’ course.
The team provides a negotiator coordinator and two negotiators on call every hour of every day, and aims to be at the scene of the incident within 45 minutes of receiving the initial request from the force duty officer. Prior to negotiator attendance it is often the initial first responders who deal with a person in crisis using their communication skills, caring demeanour and professionalism to try to bring them to a position of safety.
As a result of national and forcecentred organisational learning, GMP deputy lead Insp John Ormerod has worked with the National Negotiation Group to develop a national ‘Dealing with Persons in Crisis’ guidance document.
This guidance document, and the associated learning package, have been distributed to all first responders in the police, fire and rescue service and ambulance service and is designed to aid first responders when dealing with person in crisis incidents.
It is important that GMP officers and supervisors make themselves aware of the contents of this guidance document. GMP will be the lead agency for many of these incidents and GMP supervisors will be expected to have effective command and control whilst working with other key JESIP partners.
To assist officers, the JESIP app has now been updated to include a ‘Persons in Crisis’ tab which details the key aspects of the guidance document. When a negotiator coordinator provides advice to the officer or supervisor at the scene, they will highlight the content of the app.
Child protection at GMP
Child protection is one of the most important aspects of what we do at GMP. It is not just a specialist role; protecting children and young people is everyone’s responsibility. At GMP we aim to practise trauma-informed, professionally curious policing, safeguarding vulnerable children and young people and disrupting the harmful and criminal behaviours of offenders who target them.
National Child Protection Inspection
Greater Manchester Police is gearing up for a comprehensive inspection of its child protection practices by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
The national child protection inspection (NCPI) is set to begin on 22 July 2024 and will run for three weeks, concluding on 9 August 2024.
The inspection process will involve multiple phases:
• Case audits: GMP has submitted dip samples of cases to provide evidence of how we address child protection issues.
• Document submission: policies and procedures related to child protection will be reviewed.
• On-site visits: inspectors will conduct interviews and focus groups with staff at all levels, from chief officers to frontline constables in all districts and in numerous departments. They will also observe meetings and review performance data. Every member of GMP has a role to play in showcasing our commitment to protecting vulnerable children. Here’s how you can contribute:
• Be prepared: familiarise yourself with GMP’s child protection policies and procedures. Understand your role in safeguarding children, regardless of your primary duties.
• Showcase good work: don’t be afraid to highlight the positive impact you have made in child protection cases. Share examples of effective partnership working and innovative approaches.
• Embrace continuous improvement: as a forward-thinking force, we are always looking for ways to enhance our practices. If you are asked about challenges, share our ongoing initiatives and areas where we’re actively working to improve. This approach demonstrates our commitment to learning and development, helping HMICFRS understand our dedication to excellence in child protection.
• Engage with inspectors: if you are selected for an interview or focus group, approach it as an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and commitment. Be open, honest, and professional in your interactions.
• Maintain business as usual: the best way to impress inspectors is by demonstrating our day-to-day commitment to protecting children. Continue to prioritise child protection in your daily work.
In addition to the standard NCPI process, GMP will undergo a thematic inspection on CSE and CCE. This additional scrutiny reflects the importance of these issues both nationally and locally.
Professional curiosity and the voice of the child
Professional curiosity refers to the communication skills needed to explore and understand what is happening for a person, rather than making assumptions or accepting things at face value. It requires skills of looking, listening, asking direct questions and being able to hold difficult conversations. When we speak about the voice of the child, we don’t just
mean when a child says or the tone with which they say it. The voice of the child encompasses all aspects of engaging meaningfully with a child: what they say; what they don’t say; how they look and behave; the environment in which they live –all of this builds a picture of the child’s experience.
Appropriate language
The language that we use to describe the exploitation of children is important. It is never appropriate to use language about children and young people who have been commercially or sexually exploited, or those who are at risk of exploitation, which victim-blames, dehumanises, adultifies or normalises traumatic experiences.
It’s inappropriate to describe an exploited child as ‘streetwise’ or ‘seeking attention’. It’s unfair to say a child is ‘putting themselves at risk’, that they are ‘drug running’ or ‘recruiting’, or that they should ‘take responsibility for their behaviour’. It is cruel to say that a child is ‘promiscuous’ or ‘prostituting themselves’.
Young people who are in abusive or coercive situations are not in charge of what is happening to them. The responsibility lies with the adults who are exploiting them. No matter how challenging or uncooperative a child victim is, they are still a child; and it is our responsibility to protect them.
Speaking to children and young adults
There are no formal qualifications or training needed to speak with a child or young person.
There is no legal requirement for a parent, carer or other adult to give consent for a police officer to speak to a child to establish the child’s welfare, or to be present when they do so.
When you speak with a child or young person who is at risk or has been exploited, consider how you want to make them feel. We don’t want to give exploited children the impression that they are in trouble or that we not on their side – we want them to feel that they can trust us and engage with the process.
Sometimes, children who are being exploited can be challenging or reluctant to engage. They may be hostile to the police as a whole, either due to negative experiences in the past or because they have been taught by their exploiters to see us as the enemy. They feel it is ‘too late’ for them or that exploitation is their only option. This behaviour is normal, and while it may be difficult in the moment, it is important to be kind and persevere. Children who are exploited are victims of crime, and it is our responsibility to protect them.
Resources
If child protection isn’t your specialism, or if you need advice or a second opinion, there are places you can go for help:
• Children’s Crime Allocation Triage sergeants are based in each of the DITs.
• In cases of online abuse, contact a digital media investigator.
• If a child or young person has gone missing, speak to a Missing From Home officer.
• For issues around partnership liaison, contact your local MultiAgency Safeguarding and Support Hub (the MASSH).
• The child protection hub on the intranet holds all the news, resources and advice you may need.
Scan here to visit the GMP child protection hub.
GMP bolsters child protection as inspection approaches
Greater Manchester Police is reinforcing its commitment to child protection with the appointment of Det Supt Alex Bacon as the new Force Lead for Child Protection and Missing, just as the force prepares for a comprehensive inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
Det Supt Bacon joins GMP from West Yorkshire Police, bringing a wealth of experience in child protection and safeguarding roles at every rank. His arrival coincides with the upcoming national child protection inspection (NCPI), set to begin at GMP on 22 July 2024.
“Child protection has always been my passion,” says Det Supt Bacon. “I’m humbled to take on this role at such a crucial time for GMP. The fact that we have two superintendents focused on child protection and child-centred policing demonstrates how seriously the force takes this responsibility.”
The NCPI, which will run for three weeks, marks the first comprehensive examination of GMP’s child protection procedures in over a decade. It will be accompanied by an additional thematic inspection focusing on child sexual exploitation (CSE) and child criminal exploitation (CCE).
Det Supt Bacon sees the inspection as an opportunity to showcase GMP’s progress and identify areas for improvement. “We’ve changed incredibly to address concerns, particularly with our complex safeguarding teams,” he notes. “They’re held up as national good practice, and we should be proud of the partnership working we’ve established.”
The inspection will scrutinise every aspect of GMP’s approach to child protection, from initial contact through to investigation and outcomes for children. HMICFRS inspectors will assess the force against five key criteria: leadership, partnership working, initial response, risk assessment and referral, and investigations.
All GMP staff have a role to play in demonstrating the force’s commitment to safeguarding. Det Supt Bacon emphasises, “This isn’t just about specialists. No matter what role you have, you’re part of our overall child protection approach.”
Staff can prepare by familiarising themselves with GMP’s child protection policies, being ready to showcase good work, and engaging openly with inspectors if selected for interviews or focus groups.
Looking ahead, Det Supt Bacon identifies increasing demand as one of the biggest challenges in child protection nationally. “We’re becoming more aware of the risks to children, particularly online and extra-familial abuse,” he explains. “Families are often unaware of these dangers.”
To address these challenges, Det Supt Bacon aims to develop GMP’s approach to the implementation of the new Working Together 2023 statutory guidance on child protection. This involves engaging with GMP’s 10 local authorities to ensure consistent levels of child protection services across the region.
The NCPI results, expected to be published several months after the inspection, will play a crucial role in shaping GMP’s future approach to child protection. Det Supt Bacon sees this as the beginning of a long-term journey. “I’m not just here for the inspection,” he says. “This is an opportunity to fast-track improvements and set the stage for ongoing enhancements to
our child protection practices.”
As GMP faces this pivotal moment, the force remains committed to its core mission of protecting vulnerable children across Greater Manchester. With new leadership and a focus on continuous improvement, GMP is poised to meet the challenges ahead and ensure the safety of the region’s most vulnerable residents.
Following the trial success of the Mini Police scheme in Wigan over the past year, GMP will begin expanding the project to all districts from September 2024 – the Mini Police even have their own crest, created by GMP Design Studio Manager Jay Ashworth, marking their official status at GMP.
To mark the forcewide launch, Chief Constable Stephen Watson and ACC Matt Boyle invited the Mini Police to Force Headquarters, alongside their teachers, school governors and the officers in charge of running the pilot in Wigan.
Alongside the Chief and ACC Boyle, representatives from all districts were in attendance to watch a presentation from the Mini Police about the fun, educational activities they have been a part of throughout the project, including a speed awareness operation; knife crime activity; first aid session; Remembrance Day parade; CCTV operation; hate crime talk; a visit to the Police Museum; and a visit from the NPAS helicopter. Teachers, officers and school heads spoke about the profound impact being engaged in the scheme has on the children, schools and communities involved.
Q&A with the Chief
Following their presentation, the children took the rare opportunity to quiz the Chief about his role: What made you want to be a police officer?
“It’s a really worthwhile job; you get to help the community and keep people safe, but you also get to ‘get the bad guys’ – we all want to do that, don’t we?”
Do you remember your first day?
“It was a really miserable rainy day in Nelson, I felt really proud with my big hat on and I still to this day remember the first member of the public I spoke to, even if I did get soaked wet through.” What’s been your favourite thing about being a Chief Constable?
“It’s great to lead such a large organisation; I enjoy watching
things come together and seeing the force succeed. Our main job is to protect the public, and I think by being the Chief I get a good chance at making a difference to people’s lives. One of the greatest feelings is when we are able to redirect money recovered from criminals to projects in the community that help and support those in need to reach their potential – it feels like God’s work.”
Have you ever been undercover?
“When I was a young officer I did apply to be a covert officer, but as soon as I walked in the room – before I even had a chance to sit down – the interviewer shouted ‘no, get out, you look too much like an officer for this role’! So I carried on my career in uniform.”
What has been your proudest moment?
“For me personally, my proudest moment was when I went to Buckingham Palace to receive my Queen’s Police Medal, it was fantastic to meet Queen Elizabeth and get to see such a spectacular palace along with my family. Professionally, I’m very proud of our officers, staff and volunteers for the work they do day in, day out to protect our communities.”
The Chief finished by explaining the importance of the Mini Police Officers’ role within their schools and communities and how important it is to use their influence positively and to keep making a difference.
Q&A with the Mini Police
Representatives from each district took their chance to ask the mini officers what it’s like being part of the scheme:
What made you want to be part of the Mini Police?
“I wanted to help the community be a safer place.”
“To have fun and learn about safety.”
“My mum works as a special officer and I wanted to help other people change their attitude towards the police.”
Has it changed your opinion of the police?
“I’m confident in saying hello to officers I see, and I now know the
police do so much more than just arrest people.”
What do the rest of the school think about you all now you’re a part of GMP’s Mini Police?
“They think we’re braver, they’re jealous they’ve not been included.”
“They love hearing what we’ve been up to.”
“People treat me differently now, they come to me more for help.”
Do you want to join the police when you’re older?
“I’d like to be a footballer, but if that doesn’t work out then yes.”
The mini officers were also able to quiz Director of IT and Digital, ACO Dougie Henderson:
Do you ever get bored of tech?
“No – I don’t know if you can tell but I’m a bit of a geek, I love tech. I’m always thinking ‘what’s next’ and ‘what can we do to help everyone’. It never gets boring. We never stand still, tech is always evolving. We’re always looking to find solutions to help make the organisation better and more efficient.”
What is GMP’s main use of tech?
“At GMP we use a wealth of tech in everything that we do. Our staff and officers have laptops that they use to do their work, with communication apps like Outlook and Microsoft Teams being heavily used to connect the force. There are some more operational things like the Police National Computer (PNC) and Command and Control that officers use to find information about suspects and criminals and then we have things like Axon body-worn video that officers wear, allowing interactions with the public to be recorded. The latest update enables the video to be livestreamed, which is a huge benefit.”
Activity
After lunch, the Mini Police took charge of an activity in the Silver Command Suite, where Insp Jim Corrigan explained he
had received a report of suspects acting suspiciously nearby. The children utilised their communication skills by shouting up a description of the suspects on the radio to PC Barrie Lamb, who logged the description and sent officers to the scene.
Throughout the activity, the mini officers saw firsthand how the control room utilises technology to keep officers safe and aid investigations. A great example of this was the new AXON livestream facility, which enabled them to see the officer speaking to the suspect in real time, confirm they had the correct person and check that the police officer was safe.
Once the suspect was safely apprehended, the children came down to the car park to learn he was actually an undercover officer and the cars in the carpark were safe from harm.
ACC Matt Boyle commented:
“The Mini Police scheme will be rolled out forcewide this coming school year with the aim of increasing community trust and engagement. The trial in Wigan has been a huge success and I’ve heard nothing but fantastic feedback from both the schools and the community, praising the officers and children involved.
“To make the scheme a continued success in each district we will be delivering the scheme through our neighbourhood policing teams, who will be identifying appropriate schools, working with teachers and governors, selecting and attesting our Mini Police across Greater Manchester.
“The longstanding impact this will have on the children and communities involved cannot be underestimated. By showcasing the work we do through engaging experiences for children at an early stage, we are building trust and embedding long-term positive relationships with policing. In turn, the Mini Police are directly influencing their peers both to engage in healthy behaviours and to view the police as a positive presence within the community.”
In the final week of June, GMP celebrated its response policing teams as part of a national week of action.
National Response Policing Week of Action, which ran from 24 to 30 June, saw the force highlight the hard work, dedication and professionalism of its response officers, staff and volunteers as well as those who contribute to the response service.
There are more than 1,600 response officers in GMP, including 1,392 frontline PCs; each serving different areas across the region and responding to reports of all natures, from burglaries and robberies to fights and traffic collisions. Response teams will often be the first to attend an incident to assess the immediate risk of harm, initiate an investigation, and provide a reassuring visible police presence for the public. Our force control room receives almost 600,000 999 calls a year (1,600 a day), which are answered in around four seconds on average. In the past year, we responded to 135,726 Grade 1 incidents (calls that needed an
immediate response) across the Greater Manchester area – this is around 370 a day – with an average response time of nine minutes and 34 seconds on average, well inside the expected national average of 15 minutes.
ACC Matt Boyle, head of local policing at GMP, said: “Our response officers play a vital role in keeping the public of Greater Manchester safe every day of the year around the clock.
“Almost every officer starts on response; there is no doubt it’s one of the toughest, but also most rewarding, roles in policing. They will usually be the first officers on the scene of an ongoing incident and will often be the first person the public sees, so it is vital they are trained to the highest standards and have the latest kit and equipment – this will include vital life-saving training and the highest driving skills.
“We have invested £6 million in new uniforms for frontline officers, as well as upgrading their tasers and bodyworn video cameras. We are constantly reviewing the challenges our officers face and looking to see how we can
support them further, as well as raising awareness of the support services that are available and making sure they have the latest, most up-to-date equipment and technology.
“Response policing is the bedrock of every police force across the country. When the public call us, often in one of the worst moments of their lives, they rightly expect us to arrive quickly, act professionally, and protect them. This type of work can be extremely challenging, which is why there is also a focus on officers’ wellbeing this week.”
A key point of focus for the week was the importance of robust wellbeing support measures for response teams, promoting awareness of the wellbeing and resilience support services provided throughout the year by our occupational health unit, with access to a range of initiatives from the force and Health Assured, the force’s provider of counselling and wellbeing support. Response teams across Greater Manchester were also visited by a Salvation Army wellbeing van, serving hot dogs, tea, coffee and chocolate.
Bury PC Christopher Corlett has been named Greater Manchester Police Response Officer of the Year.
Throughout the year, he has led by example with his ‘relentless work’ and arrest rate. In the past year, PC Corlett has made 56 arrests, with more than half resulting in a charge or resolution. He also carried out dozens of stopsearches, with around 50% having a positive outcome.
PC Corlett, who began his career as a PCSO and has been with GMP for almost 12 years, said: “I was surprised but delighted to have won the award – it’s great to have the support and backing of your team leaders.
“I love the variety of the job and the team dynamic we have; I am a proactive officer and love going out to arrest people and stopping vehicles. Because I am taser trained, I am often sent to the tougher, more exciting jobs.”
Supt Chris Hill, district commander for Bury, said: “It is rare that officers receive praise for the relentless work they undertake, but PC Corlett’s nomination was an immediate and unanimous decision. He’s a huge asset to policing and we could not think of anybody more deserving to receive this award.
“Throughout the entirety of his police service within GMP, PC Corlett
has served tirelessly as part of the frontline response team. He is often heavily relied on when developing his less experienced colleagues’ skills and improving their confidence when dealing with live incidents, offenders and members of the public.
“He has always worked diligently and been an impeccable example to all his colleagues and has continually delivered the highest standard of service to the Bury community via his proactive attitude to policing.”
PC Corlett will now be put forward for the National Police Chiefs’ Council Response Officer of the Year awards, taking place later this year.
Wellbeing at GMP
The Ben Fund
A new process for accessing physiotherapy support at St Michael’s Lodge is now in place, and members of the Ben Fund (which is only eligible for officers) are no longer able to apply for residential physio treatment directly.
All applications for physio support will now go through outpatient services, which can be completed at St Michael’s Lodge, situated in Ribble Valley, or at Progress House in Stockport.
During the initial assessment, the physiotherapist will decide if the individual would benefit from an inpatient stay and progress if appropriate.
For more information on The Ben Fund, including forms to apply for treatment, please visit their website: www.thebenfund. co.uk.
Wellbeing recruitment drive
We are actively recruiting new volunteers across the wellbeing network!
You can get involved in wellbeing through a wide range of roles and responsibilities. You will be given training, continuous support, regular supervision, an annual appreciation event, a yearly continuous professional development (CPD) day with other volunteers, and the opportunity to link in with like-minded people.
You can put in expressions of interest for the following:
• Peer Supporter: use your own experiences of mental ill health to support others
• Wellbeing Resilience Coach: support colleagues on whole range of issues affecting their wellbeing
• Grief First Aiders: support others going through a difficult time
• Welfare Peer: support colleagues under investigation
• Peer Champion: receive training in delivering wellbeing inputs to students, apprentices, teams within your place of work
You can find more information on any of these roles on the intranet by navigating to Home > Wellbeing > Internal Support > Peer support volunteer networks.
If you have any questions about wellbeing in your district or branch, or would like to join your district or branch wellbeing committee, contact your wellbeing SPOC – you can find a list of SPOCs on the ‘Peer support volunteer networks’ page.
You can learn more about our informal support groups via Home > Wellbeing > Internal support > Informal peer support groups.
Wellbeing on tour
This year saw the GMP Wellbeing team undertake its fourth roadshow around GMP to showcase the array of internal and external support available to all our colleagues.
In another record, 1,124 individuals engaged in conversation about their wellbeing and signposting support services. The team would like to thank every person who was involved, from the Business Support Services teams and SPOCs who helped with the coordination and promotion, to Oscar Kilo for allowing the use of their van and our drivers for moving the van to each location, to each and every single person who took some time to come and talk with us.
We would also like to thank all our partners, internal and external, who took the time to support us.
The Wellbeing team was joined by:
• Costco
• Dad Matters
• Grief First Aiders
• GSN
• Health Assured
• Menopause Ambassadors
• No1 Copper Pot
• Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service
• PMAS
• Police Care
• Police Treatment Centre
• Public Health Collaboration
• Samaritans
• TRiM
• Unison
For more information please contact the team at WellbeingVolunteerCoordinators@gmp.police.uk
Rochdale officers manage to return stolen vehicle to owner shortly after it was taken
At 10:30am on 14 June, Rochdale GMP received an urgent call from a victim whose house had been broken into and had their car and car keys stolen.
The call went out and local neighbourhood officers who were in the area, supported by colleagues on Response in liveried cars.
Acting efficiently by working together, they managed to track the car down to where it was abandoned on Marland Old Road. The vehicle was quickly recovered and returned to its owner within 30 minutes.
Specially trained drivers in an unmarked car were sent to locate the suspects, who were swiftly detained on St Marys Gate in Rochdale town centre.
Four men, aged between 1930, were arrested on suspicion of burglary and were taken into custody to be questioned.
Brendan said: “Myself and a colleague were in an unmarked vehicle and heard that a car had been stolen in a burglary in Heywood and was heading towards Green Lane. We decided to go and check Springfield Park as cars have been dumped there before and it would be on the route if offenders headed towards Rochdale.
“Reports came in of the stolen vehicle being parked on a street near the park with a Black Audi vehicle in tandem with it. Officers found the stolen vehicle unattended and shortly after we drove out of the park, we saw a black Audi with offenders fitting the description on board.
“I directed traffic patrols in as we followed the Audi and observed an object being thrown out of the vehicle on St Marys Gate into an under pass (Officers attended
straight away and recovered the object which turned out to be the key to the stolen vehicle). Traffic caught up with us and put a stop on the vehicle and four males were detained in the car and arrested on suspicion of burglary.”
Inspector Meena Yasin from our Rochdale district said: “This was incredibly frightening for the victim who was upstairs at the time and witnessed, through his doorbell camera, a man in a balaclava enter his house and take his car keys.
“This is an excellent result, and I am pleased that we have been able to reunite the owner with his car. I hope this sends a strong message that we are committed to tackling burglary, and once we receive a report, we will use all resources available to locate your car and bring those responsible to justice.”
Officer set to run Berlin Marathon to raise money for mental health charity
Karen Wilson, a dedicated runner, police officer, and mother of three, recently achieved a significant milestone by completing the London marathon in April.
Karen started working at GMP in 2006 and has spent 18 years working at Rochdale Police station. She has worked in a variety of roles and is currently working in the complex safeguarding team.
Describing the experience as fulfilling and unforgettable, Karen had been entering the ballot for the last six years, so finally getting a place was very exciting for her. Inspired by her love for running and the iconic status of the London Marathon, one of the six world major marathons, this was a huge goal of hers and she was able to finish in only four hours and 40 minutes.
She said: “Running London was an amazing experience, and everything I expected it to be. The atmosphere was brilliant from the start to the finish and the crowds, and all the cheering
really helps to pull you along”.
Looking ahead, Karen is now focused on her next challenge: the Berlin marathon, which will take place in September. She aims to raise vital funds for the Rethink Mental Illness, which is a leading charity provider of mental health services in England.
“Running is, and continues to be, my saviour when it comes to mental health. I have struggled with mental illness, and I took up running to help me manage this. Having that time away from everything, even if it’s just for half an hour just instantly improves my mood and my energy and makes me feel better.”
When asked what time she is hoping to finish for the Berlin Marathon she said:” I would love to go under four hours 30 mins, however I have always worked on the motto – ‘finish lines over finish times’, so just to finish will be an achievement as Berlin is another one of the world major marathons and I feel lucky to have been given the opportunity to
run it.”
If you are able to donate or support Rethink Mental illness, it would be greatly appreciated. Every contribution makes a difference in the lives of those affected by mental illness. You can make a donation via this QR code to Karen Wilson’s Just Giving page:
Intelligence Support officer receives well-deserved district award for his dedication to his role
District Awards celebrate the hard work and dedication of individuals at GMP.
John Mccaffrey, a dedicated intelligence support officer, received the Rochdale staff of the year award for his dedication to his role and the invaluable support he provides to others in the Rochdale district. Since joining the GMP apprenticeship scheme in September 2020, John has been committed to his role.
Reflecting on his time within GMP, John shared: “I have always worked within the Rochdale district intelligence Unit. From day one I have been fascinated by the work done within the Intelligence field and knew it was the right career path for me!”
Winning the award was one of John’s proudest moments, he said: “When I see the fine work done by officers and police staff daily, I take great pride in being a small part of it all, knowing I help in my own small way. I am honoured that amongst all the unsung heroes on district somebody took the time to offer praise
and say thank you for my work”.
Motivated by the impact of his role, he said: “The end result is worth the effort. My role enables me to pull intelligence together to develop warrants, allowing police to be more proactive which then makes Rochdale a safer place for all; whether that be through criminals taken off the street, firearms, weapons, drugs, or cash recovered.”
A memorable experience from his time in Rochdale was when he played an important role in apprehending a criminal linked to a string of bogus burglaries in 2023. Using available systems, he was able to identify the male in question and locate an address for him. The research indicated he was a well-known criminal responsible for causing distress to numerous victims. It later transpired the male was wanted for a serious assault, leading to his arrest.
John’s secret to approaching everyday challenges, he said: “No two days are the same and often work can throw a real curveball. I find a
good cup of tea fixes all. Then I try to find a logical, pragmatic approach to problem-solve the issue. I work closely with other teams and partner agencies. These teams hold a wealth of knowledge and experience, and it never hurts to get a second opinion”.
Offering some advice for aspiring intelligence officers he added, “If you work closely with other teams, don’t hesitate to try and learn what their job entails. In doing so you may find there is more you can do in your own role to help them.”
Corporate Communications branch: Meet the Awards and Recognition team
The Corporate Communications branch is the bridge between the force, its employees and the public. Our main goal is to support operational policing and to enhance public confidence.
The Awards and Recognition team is a dedicated team whose mission is to shine a spotlight on the exceptional work and achievements of staff and officers. Our team consists of the awards and recognition coordinator and an awards officer. We also currently have an events apprentice who is supporting us and we all work together to make sure deserving people are recognised for their hard work.
Our team takes pride in boosting morale and we are responsible for organising various events within GMP. These include the Chief Constable’s annual awards ceremony, officer attestations, the force Christmas concert and the remembrance service.
One of the key aspects of the team is organising and curating the long service awards, which are put on throughout the year and are an opportunity for staff and officers to be recognised for their time in the force. Officers receive medals for their service, and badges were recently introduced for staff to ensure they also have a memento to acknowledge their commitment and service to the force.
One of the core values of the Awards and Recognition team is to encourage appreciation and acknowledgment within Greater Manchester Police. The team actively urges colleagues to nominate individuals who consistently go above and beyond their duties, achieve remarkable milestones or demonstrate bravery. They have also been encouraging and supporting branches and districts to organise their own ceremonies to highlight good work, to bring people together and to
celebrate everyone’s achievements.
To nominate someone for recognition, simply fill out a nomination form and help brighten someone’s day. To fill out a form contact Award and Recognition Co-ordinator Wendy Docker (ext: 65955) or Awards Officer Joanne Bradley (ext: 62222) or email us at awards.team@gmp.police.uk – they are here to help.
Over the next few editions, we will be highlighting one of the teams within our Corporate Comms branch and showing how they can help and to show you all what they are currently working on.
