TACKLING COMMUNITY CONCERNS ACROSS MIDDLETON
The September edition of district Brief will focus on our Force Intelligence Branch (FIB) and District Intelligence Unit (DIU).
Intelligence is key for us to be able to deploy our resources where harm is greatest and protect the people of our communities, particularly the vulnerable.
The FIB and DIU work together to review and analyse intelligence and inform our policing response so that we can respond to crime efficiently and accordingly.
The team at the FIB consists of several police staff and officers that are responsible for force intelligence collection, force intelligence management, threat scanning and monitoring, force research and analysis, and tasking and governance.
The FIB uses both covert and overt sections together, with an uplift in analyst numbers, co-located at Nexus House. The work they do behind the scenes plays an integral part to many investigations across the districts of Greater Manchester and when stakes are high, they can enhance their support for districts to do things like help locate HRM persons.
FIBs collect, analyse, and interpret data to identify crime patterns, hotspots, and potential threats. Utilising various sources, including technology, informants, and collaboration with other agencies, helps in generating actionable intelligence for crime prevention and investigation.
The team then uses this intelligence to stay ahead of criminal activities and can deploy effective resources to help prevent crimes and keep the communities of Greater Manchester safe from its harms and impacts.
FIB and DIU also collaborate with other law enforcement agencies, community organisations, and stakeholders facilitates a comprehensive approach to crime prevention and victim support. Sharing intelligence and best practices enhances the effectiveness of crimefighting efforts.
The teams ensure they prioritise victims and support them throughout investigations, as they work towards reducing crime, keeping people safe, and providing care for victims within the community.
Thank you
Vapes seized in Middleton as officers tackle community issues
Across the force, districts are constantly tackling community concerns from tackling antisocial behaviour and targeting unlicensed premises to seizing illicit substances.
Officers across Rochdale are no different with targeted raids taking place in Middleton at the end of August alongside partners from Trading Standards – seizing hundreds of vapes and keeping communities.
On Friday (30 August), officers joined members of Rochdale’s Trading Standards team, councillors, and licensing officers to visit a range of businesses and premises, including takeaways, small shops, pubs, and other locations suspected of illegal practices in the Middleton area
The ongoing work falls under the umbrella of Operation Venture – a force-wide initiative to tackle serious and violent crime across Greater Manchester. By targeting businesses illegally selling vapes and alcohol, officers can prevent further criminality that could follow – such as ASB, street drinking, littering, and further issues including addiction.
During the work, officers and Trading Standards seized hundreds of vapes,
as well as other illicit products not legal in the UK, issuing the appropriate paperwork and notices to businesses.
Other stores were found to be registered to the wrong owners and were made to close pending the correct arrangements being made.
Further interventions will follow where repeat offenders are identified and do not make the adequate changes.
Chief Inspector Bryn Saville, from GMP’s Rochdale district, said: “Tackling the root causes of issues such as ASB can mean we markedly tackle those responsible. By preventing illegal vapes and other products such as drug paraphernalia from being sold, we can stop crimes that blight people’s lives.
“These products have now been through the rigorous tests that are required and can cause untold harm to those using them. We will always seek to protect our communities and punish those responsible for causing those issues.
“Our work with partners ensures we can tackle crime from a variety of directions – closing down businesses, seizing vapes, securing arrests and charging people with crimes.”
Stolen vehicles and machinery recovered in Rochdale
Towards the end of August, officers from our Rochdale North Neighbourhood Team assisted by our Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit executed a warrant on Swaindrod Lane, Rochdale.
In the early hours of the morning, officers headed to the address and searched the location, uncovering a haul of suspected stolen cars, vans, caravans and plant machinery.
In total, 43 vehicles were recovered.
Officers also seized five Rolex watches, one Tag Heuer watch, seven bottles of vintage whiskey as well as £5,000 in cash, all under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
A man in 50s and a man in his 30s were arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicle, and a man in his 40s and a woman in her 50s were also arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicle and money laundering offences. They have all been bailed pending further investigations.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Jay-Naren Singh from our Rochdale district said: “This is great proactive work shown by our officers, they are dedicated to keeping communities safe and are out in the neighbourhood tackling crime.
“We had significant intelligence to
suggest that these vehicles were indeed stolen from different areas in Bury and Rochdale respectively, and we acted quickly to make sure we recovered as many of those as we possibly could.
“Working with our colleagues in the Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit helped us identify a number of vehicles which have had their identity changed. This is done by changing the number plates and/or the stamped in vehicle identification number.”
Are you ready for Right Care, Right Person?
Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) is set to go live at GMP on Monday 30 September.
RCRP is a nationwide initiative aimed at identifying the most appropriate agency to provide support to our communities. The police are not always the right agency to respond to calls from the public, and RCRP will provide a framework for those calls to be directed to providers who are better placed to help.
In Greater Manchester, RCRP will apply to G15 jobs which cover concern for welfare, patients walking out or going AWOL from healthcare establishments, and medical support. Missing persons are no longer part of RCRP and now fall under Operation Addition.
Please be aware that no changes should be made to the way we work before Right Care, Right Person is live. Whom does this affect?
Decisions around RCRP will be made predominantly within FCCO and by call handlers using a rigorous assessment
tool. District officers and staff are not required or responsible for making RCRP-related decisions; and district teams will not need to refer to RCRP at any point during their shift. If you have a query about a job which you believe should fall under RCRP, please speak to your line manager.
RCRP and the law
Under common law the police do not generally owe a duty of care to protect individuals from harm – whether this is caused by themselves or others.
The Human Rights Act 1998 does include provisions under which the police are responsible for taking reasonable measures to protect individuals from harm caused by others or by themselves:
• when there is a real and immediate risk to the life of a specific and identifiable person or group of persons (Article 2); or
• when there is a real and immediate risk of that person being subject to serious harm or other inhumane treatment
(Article 3).
Under GMP’s RCRP processes, we will no longer respond to category 1 medical matters; these will be passed to the North West Ambulance Service as a matter of course.
Training
Before RCRP goes live on 30 September, all officers and staff in training and public-facing roles must complete a 15-minute training package via College Learn, which can be found at https://www.learn.college.pnn.police. uk/CL/Content/Summary/47978.
If there are any issues or queries you would like to raise, please email RCRP_Training@gmp.police.uk.
Resources and support
You can find news, updates and resources for all aspects of Right Care, Right Person on our dedicated intranet hub by scanning the QR code below.
If you have a question about Right Care, Right Person, you can email the project team at RCRP@gmp.police.uk.
Introducing Rochdale Tutor Unit
Across the force, ensuring that our newest recruits get meaningful and supportive experience in our communities is key.
Tutor units across the district ensure this by developing the recruits on district following their attestations and training.
The aim of the operations are to develop student officers, so that they can complete their Independent Patrol Status (IPS) document and obtain evidence for their student diplomas. They also target traffic offences in the Rochdale area, which come under the neighbourhood policing priorities. As such the Tutor Unit works closely with the local neighbourhood teams to organise and then conduct them.
Since 19/04/2024, there have been 10 operations conducted across Rochdale, which has resulted in:
• 241 tickets issued
• Four arrests
• 20 vehicles seized
The success of the operations includes development of student officers, as mentioned above. Bu also there
have been multiple cars seized and Rochdale’s roads have been made safer with a significant reduction in road traffic offences in the Rochdale area.
They have also increased partnership working internally and externally. The Highways Agency, DVLA, Training Standards, Marsden Recovery (bailiffs), traffic PCSOS, Rochdale Tutor Unit and neighbourhood teams all participate.
The feedback from those taking part has all been positive. As mentioned above, this has helped with target the neighbourhood priority of speeding alongside student development.
Operations have also been featured within the local media with PC Dan Richards from the unit noting to local communities: “We run these operations to help people stay safe on the roads of Rochdale and beyond – driving while on a mobile phone, or while not using a seatbelt – could have potentially devastating consequences, and it is incredibly important we enforce the laws in place.
“When people tell us about issues they
have in their area, such as a specific road or junction, we aim to work around there to help prevent and deter any criminality on the roads. By keeping a presence there when we can, we hope to show drivers we will put a stop to any inappropriate or criminal behaviour that may be being committed.”
Externally, all successes are communicated to communities using Bee in the Loop which has in turn helped to increase public satisfaction.
Internally the team have also been making waves across the force with other tutor units from across the force have also been in touch with the district asking if their students could attend during operations.
Meet the Press Office: your communications team
The Corporate Communications branch is the bridge between the force, it’s employees and the public.
The branch deals with all internal and external communication with employees and the media. Our main goal is to support operational policing and to enhance public confidence. The branch is located on the ground floor at Greater Manchester Police Force Headquarters (GMPFHQ). In today’s fast-paced world, effective communication is essential for public safety.
Their mission is to keep the public informed, safe, and engaged while also supporting our officers and staff. The press office provides proactive and reactive communications and media support to officers and staff of all ranks.
The team is made up of a media manager, two team leaders, a number of media officers, two social media support officers and a public relations and communications apprentice.
The press office takes on a variety of initiatives to increase public safety and enhance communication. For example, we warn and inform the public in response to incidents and emergencies.
The team also produce multimedia content to help with reduction and prevention of crime, harm and anti-social behaviour, while also publicising delivery of good work to build public trust and confidence.
In addition, they provide training and support to officers of all ranks, helping them navigate media interactions.
Finally, they facilitate media opportunities proactively and reactively across incidents and portfolio areas, as well as requests for filming and documentaries, ensuring that all enquires are managed through the press office.
Following the tensions throughout the UK, they focused on ensuring that communities within Greater Manchester felt safe and supported
by:
• Providing messaging to build community reassurance and confidence in policing
• Showing what patrol officers were doing, patrols they were carrying out.
• Promoting the sentencing and charges people involved in the riots.
The media office office hours are Monday to Friday from 6:30am to 7pm and on weekends from 8am to 4pm. For any enquiries, please contact the team at ext: 62230 during weekday office hours or via email at press. office@gmp.police.uk.
Out of hours contact can be made with the on-call press officer via the force duty officer.
This series within district Brief will continue to highlight each of the teams within the corporate communications branch with a bit about what they do and what they are currently working on.