New season for Operation Rimini
The operation returns after 100 charges last year - read more on page two
Prolific Stockport shoplifter jailed
Prolific offender Thomas Knight has been jailed for 12 months for his role in 31 separate shoplifting incidents.
Officers from Stockport secured evidence as Thomas Knight (12/06/1991) of Conway Towers, Brinnington was sentenced to 12 months in prison on Saturday 26 October 2024, at Manchester City Magistrates Court.
This was in relation to 31 different shoplifting offences which were uncovered after officers initially arrested Knight for 11 shop thefts on Berrycroft Lane in Bredbury that took place between late-June 2024 and midSeptember 2024.
After pleading guilty to the offences, he failed to appear at court for sentencing back in September and October 2024, where he continued his offending at the same location, as well as Compstall Road in Romiley for another 31 times.
He was detained shortly after, during a dedicated operation in Bredbury and remanded this time by the court where he pleaded guilty again and was sent to prison for his brazen behaviour.
PC Adam Burgess from our Stockport Neighbourhood team said: “Throughout the summer Knight had a blatant disregard to anyone and especially the businesses and shop workers he consistently targeted.
“Once officers became aware of his offending, we made sure we collated the evidence needed to send a strong message to others that shoplifting is a serious crime that will not be tolerated.
“Encouraging members of our community to report incidents means that we can deploy resources and ensure patrols are there to provide that reassurance and visible deterrent to people who are intent on committing crime.”
Thanks and praise
Officers and staff across the district work tirelessly for our communities and it’s important to recognise this in the feedback we receive.
From praise from partners in supporting warrants and showing kindness and compassion in someone’s hour of need, the messages below from our communities show how much of an impact our workforce has on the people and communities we protect.
Officers thanked for their professionalism NPOs Beth Jackson (01707) and Jack Flynn (18068) were thanked by an adult mental health practitioner from Stockport Council for their help in executing a warrant to enable a mental health act assessment and detention to hospital for someone who was very unwell.
The AMHP said: “It was a difficult and complex situation and I just wanted to say thank you to two officers who were very professional and helped the situation remain as calm as possible, whilst at same time respecting the needs of the individual concerned.”
‘Caring and professional’ officers are a credit to the police force
A Stockport resident wanted to thank two officers (Mark and Joe – no other details given) who attended her friend’s house, following her unexpected death in September.
She said: “They were both so caring, whilst being totally professional – an absolute credit to the police force.
“Thank you both for the care and compassion shown to my friend (deceased) and me. It’s officers like you that are restoring respect for the police.”
‘Thanks for keeping our community safe’ Police Sergeant Matt Delaney and the team received positive feedback from the Yeshurun Synagogue in Gatley noting: “Please will you accept and pass on our thanks for you and your team helping to keep our community safe in these exceptional times”.
The message for the November edition of District Brief will focus on our district prevention hubs.
The neighbourhood prevention hubs are central to the force’s efforts in embedding the new Structured Problem-Solving Framework. These hubs provide dedicated resources to identify top demand contributors and the problems that most require police or partners attention to solve. The team then work collaboratively to address local issues, with a focus on partnership problem-solving, targeting the root causes of crime, and safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
Partnerships such as with social services, mental health professionals, and local organisations, means we can address challenges like addiction, unemployment, and homelessness, which can lead to criminal behaviour.
The hubs are made up of officers who take on a variety of roles, such as: caseworkers, school engagement officers, licensing officers and hospital liaison officers.
As an example, school engagement officers help to bridge the gap between the police and young people through educational engagement visits. They engage directly with school staff to address incidents and emerging concerns, making sure that schools can manage situations effectively and proportionately.
Working in partnerships like this, allows the hubs to gain a deeper understanding of local demand and provide more comprehensive solutions to issues such as antisocial behaviour, crime hotspots, and vulnerable people in need of specific support. It helps us to identify early warning signs, ensuring support is provided before situations escalate and increases the feeling of safety within communities.
The neighbourhood prevention hubs stand as a vital component of GMP’s strategy, offering a localised, proactive, and partnership-led approach to keeping communities safer and stronger.
Thank you.
Chief Supt. Lewis Hughes
Tackling anti-social behaviour across Stockport
Officers and partners came together at the end of October as Operation Rimini returned to Stockport town centre for a new ‘season’.
During it’s first ‘season’ (23/24), the operation saw 49 arrests and 124 charges with a number of targeted days of operation led by the local neighbourhood team.
During the launch, newly appointed district commander for Stockport, Ch. Supt. Lewis Hughes, was in attendance to welcome officers and partners to the Plaza area, with the day’s briefing being delivered by local Neighbourhood Sergeant Jim Senior.
As part of Rimini’s work, officers use multiple tactics to tackle everything from drug dealing to shoplifting, including work with partners, enlisting specialist operations, and using plain-clothes tactics to disrupt criminality.
Youth Offending Services and Stockport’s school-based officers engaged with several youths known to them with some educational behaviour, while Stockport Licensing also supported the day by attending retail outlets to remind them about their responsibilities on appropriate knife sales.
Working with security from nearby stores and centres, the team also actively patrol known hotspots and use the store net radio, which links store staff immediately to officers on patrol and has
seen the apprehension of a number of shoplifters.
While direct action is always a theme of Rimini, community engagement was a key element during launch day of the new ‘season’, with pop-up stalls providing crime prevention advice on burglaries and personal safety. This also meant local communities could meet their officers and speak about issues they were having.
Inspector Jason Holmwood, from GMP’s Stockport district, said: “This was another successful day of action as part of Operation Rimini, with its continued proactive approach to dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour in Stockport town centre.
“Rimini saw more than 100 charges as part of its previous phase, and we hope to see plenty more arrests and charges of criminals who are operating in Stockport town centre and the surrounding areas.
“Officers in the teams have received lots of great feedback from the community and local stores, and they should be extremely proud of the support they continue to provide to the community.”
CCE survey – can you help?
INPUT NEEDED FOR RESEARCH IN PREVENTING EXPLOITATION
As part of her PhD research into what works in preventing child criminal exploitation (CCE), Det Supt Claire McGuire, county lines lead and head of intelligence and harm reduction with North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), is asking GMP officers and staff to complete a five-minute survey, accessible via the QR code below or at https://hud.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eVvpIuzjHIxrIfs.
In Det Supt McGuire’s previous role as Programme Challenger DCI and GMP force county lines lead, delivering the 4P (prepare; protect; pursue; prevent) response to county lines included commissioning diversionary activities and awareness campaigns targeted towards young people. However, there is a lack of evidence on which approach works – at what age should we be talking about exploitation with children? Which reachable moments would work best? What kind of activity works best? Mentoring? Workshops? Sports and hobby-based work? Who is best placed to deliver any of these?
This research will assess the current picture of CCE in the Northwest and seek input from professionals across policing and multi-agency partners, as well as those with lived experience, to establish what works in prevention.
The survey, which closes at the end of November, is completely anonymous and will take around five minutes. More details on the project are available in the information sheet provided with the survey.
Thank you for your support.
When you are ready
GMP is supporting ‘When you are ready’, a new national campaign with a focus on encouraging victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation to reach out for support.
The campaign, which has been fully informed by those with personal experience at every stage, aims to help victims and survivors feel seen and heard and to feel empowered to seek further support when they are ready to do so.
‘When you are ready’ has been launched by the national Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) taskforce and centres on a hard-hitting three-minute film which features the voices of a number of victims and survivors who have experienced child sexual abuse and exploitation, including both contact and online offences. The film does not discuss the abuse experienced by contributors, but instead details the experience each victim and survivor had in making the hard decision to disclose their abuse to a loved one, support organisation and/or the police, and the impact it had on their life thereafter.
The campaign hopes that the film resonates with victims and survivors, highlighting that they are not alone and this is happening to other people, like them, who are living and thriving. It also aims to encourage further victims and survivors to reach out for support, if that’s the right thing to do for them,
“How can we effectively prevent young people becoming victims of Child Criminal Exploitation and mitigate threat, risk and harm?”
by telling a friend or contacting a support organisation. If someone is ready to take the next step in disclosing their experience, the film signposts victims and survivors to the bespoke campaign website directing them to a range of services and support organisations, as well as includes details on how to report to the police.
The NPCC’s lead for Child Protection and Abuse and Investigation, ACC Becky Riggs, said: “We want victims and survivors to feel positive and hopeful after seeing this campaign. From our work with victims and survivors, we understand it can take many years to process the abuse or exploitation that they experienced. For some, it may even take years just to acknowledge that what they experienced was, in fact, abuse, and not the loving or caring actions of someone they could trust.
“We also understand, from extensive research undertaken, that ‘justice’ for victims and survivors doesn’t necessarily mean a criminal justice outcome and simply telling someone can be enough. However, if victims do take the hugely difficult decision to disclose their abuse, they should be reassured that there are organisations who can provide help and support, whenever they are ready.”
You can view the film and related resources at https:// whenyouareready.co.uk/.
#When YouAreReady
GMP equestrian team brings home the prizes
It’s been a hugely successful season for the GMP equestrian team, with the highlight being a win in the team showjumping at Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre in July.
The GMP Clipper Cloppers (a bit of fun!) put in a fantastic round to defeat the competition in the 60cm class and become the winners on the day – but that wasn’t all. In true GMP style, it wouldn’t have been a trip out without an incident. Unfortunately, team member PC Lisa Hudson witnessed a fatal RTC (motorbike v car) just outside the centre when she was arriving. She stopped and gave first aid until the paramedics arrived. After a traumatic start, Lisa still managed to complete her round on her horse Cathael Dewi.
The winning team consisted of Lisa Hudson, Krissy Catlow, Carys Catlow and Insp Bree Lanyon.
Team Quest
On the same day in a second class, the team representing GMP in Team Quest dressage placed second and individually picked up a bronze medal, with Kay Livesey coming in third position on her horse Aughnabroc Cooper.
To round off the day, a third class brought home more placings, with Beckie Atkinson bringing home silver on her horse Moonlight Vision and Kay Livesey placing fifth with Aughnabroc Cooper.
Committee member Sian Mansley said: “The Team Quest season has now ended, but we had an incredible time during our first one. We placed 12 out of 34 really strong teams.
“The team are so proud of their achievement, especially finishing just outside of the regional championship. It gives us more motivation to reach these championships next year and we welcome anyone who has an interest in joining us. If you’re interested in joining the team with your own horse, please send us an email and we’ll be in touch.”
Looking ahead, next year will see even more outings for the team. If you’d like any information on joining, please email GMPEquestrianTeam@gmp. police.uk.
Engagement and Improvement Panel: Wave 2
Wave 2 of the Engagement and Improvement Panel is now live and we encourage you to have your say.
This wave aims to gather local feedback on specific issues and update us on any changes observed since Wave 1. A new feedback form, featuring tailored questions for each district or branch, will be available throughout November and is open to all officers, staff, and volunteers.
We will communicate back the actions taken based on your feedback to ensure transparency and continuous improvement.
1. Scan the QR code.
2. Click on the branch or district you belong to. If you are in a branch within a district, choose the one you feel most aligned with.
3. Answer the three questions presented to you – the more information you provide, the greater impact you can make.
4. There is an option for you to provide further detail to determine which unit you work in within your district and certain branches. This is completely optional and will just allow the Staff Engagement team to tailor actions based on your area of work.
Coronation medals and coins
The majority of coins and medals commemorating the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May 2023 have now been distributed to GMP officers and staff.
The medal, which is made of nickel silver with the royal cypher on one side and a profile view of the King and Queen on the other, was designed by Martin Jennings – who also designed the official profile of the King for the new coins issued by the Royal Mint – and manufactured by Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd in Birmingham. It has been given to more than 400,000 people around the UK, including include emergency
service workers, prison staff, members of the armed forces, ambulance workers, choristers and military personnel working at the coronation.
All GMP officers and PCSOs who had more than five years of full service on 6 May 2023 received the medal. Staff who had more than five years’ service on 6 May 2023 have been issued an equivalent commemorative coin, purchased by the force.
If you believe you should be entitled to a coronation medal or coin but have not yet received one, please contact the medal SPOC for your branch or district.
Service of thanksgiving for GMP’s 50th anniversary
On Thursday 3 October, more than 100 officers and staff gathered at the Sedgley Park chapel for a service of thanksgiving, led by force lead chaplain Fr Barry Lomax, celebrating 50 years of Greater Manchester Police.
The hour-long event, including hymns, readings and a testimony from Sedgley Park trainer and former GMP officer Philip Muller about his 50-year journey with GMP, was attended by invited guests the Lord Lieutenant Diane Hawkins, High Sheriff of Manchester Dr Eamonn O’Neal, who gave a reading,
and Deputy Mayor Kate Green. Music was provided by the GMP band and the GMP Male Voice Choir. Chief Constable Stephen Watson QPM gave an address, speaking about the evolution of GMP over the past 50 years and the journey yet to come. He commented on the continually accelerating pace of change, but emphasised that at the same time, so much of what GMP does has not changed; and the overarching responsibility of the police remains to do the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, operating at the highest standards of professionalism.
Light refreshments were available after the event, where attendees mingled and shared their memories of GMP.
Fr Barry said: “It felt important to mark our anniversary with a special service, and today’s event was about officers and staff members coming together to celebrate 50 years of GMP. This service gives us the opportunity to reflect on where we have been, where we are and where we hope to be. There have been many challenging times over the years, but the overarching feeling was one of optimism for the future and pride in what we have achieved thus far as a team.”
Following a successful first year in Wigan, the Mini Police scheme has expanded across GMP. Other districts are now following suit and are in the process of attesting selected cohorts of local children as mini GMP officers.
Bolton is the first district to make the programme official for this school year. The district neighbourhood teams have chosen two schools from their local communities to work with this year: St Mary’s CE Primary School and Chorley New Road Primary Academy.
To mark the launch of the scheme in Bolton, Sgt Oliver Cooper, PC Chris Chadwick and PC Ciara Cushnahan invited the children, their families and teachers to Bolton Wanderers FC. They were given a tour of the stadium before attending the attestation ceremony, where they received their warrant cards and read the Mini Police Promise out loud, making them official mini police officers.
STADIUM TOUR
The tour of the stadium began with a walk up to the media suite where journalists usually sit and ask the manager or players hard-hitting questions.
The children took the opportunity to roleplay this, with three of them taking to the stage to play the roles of ‘manager’, ‘top goal scorer’ and ‘the new signing’.
Some of the questions and answers included:
• What are your team strategies? “I think it’s going to be very hard, but actually very easy.”
• How did you find the ballers (it took the adults in the room a minute to figure out ‘ballers’ was a term the children use to describe footballers)? “I scouted them from different football camps.”
• What’s it like being the manager? “It’s good, I earn money.”
• How do you feel about playing for this new team? “It’s something new, so I feel nervous; but I’m really good, so I’m excited.”
The children visited the team’s dressing rooms, where they could see the vast difference in the setup afforded to the home team – who had cushioned benches, their own space to keep their belongings and a tactics board – and the away team’s dressing room, which resembled something you’d see at a community swimming baths that hasn’t seen any investment in at least 10 years.
The mini officers then made their way down the tunnel and ran out pitchside to get a feel for what the team see on a matchday, minus the thousands of people in the stands.
ATTESTATION
After the VIP tour, the children headed back upstairs to the 1877 Suite with their families for the start of the attestation ceremony.
The event was attended by members of the Bolton district SLT, including Supt Ian Jones, who had previously launched the Mini Police in Merseyside Police and brought the scheme to Wigan last year, and district commander Ch Supt Helen Critchley.
Taking to the stage to launch the event, Supt Jones told the children: “Everyone in your school now will be looking to you for advice, and your role as a mini police officer will be to help them choose the right path and make the right decisions. I want everyone to work hard, take everything in, learn from the activities but also share what you learn with your peers.
“My biggest message to you is: just think. Whether you’re at school, home or out in the community, just think what the consequence of your decision is. Think to yourself: how will this decision affect me, my family, my friends, my community? Making the right choice can sometimes be tough, but as long as you’re thinking about your decisions and the consequences, I know you’ll be fantastic role models to your friends and the
rest of the community.
“The good thing for me right now is that for once in my life, I’m not the smallest police officer in the room!”
Deputy Mayor Kate Green spoke to the children about the importance of their role and welcomed them to the force, saying: “You’re going to be really important ambassadors for the police, helping us build trust and confidence in the community and helping people feel safe. I want to say a massive thank you for putting yourselves forward for the role and thank you to your parents for supporting you in this. We’re really grateful you’ve chosen to be a part of the mini police and I can’t wait to see what you get up to.”
As the ceremony came to a close, Ch Supt Critchley thanked parents for their support and told the newly attested mini police officers: “All I’m going to ask of you is what I ask of all of my officers: to treat everybody in every interaction they have with fairness, dignity and respect. These are incredibly important parts of being a police officer in Greater Manchester Police, and now you are my officers too, I expect you all to do the same and treat everyone in your community with fairness, dignity and respect – if you do, I know for sure that you’ll make the best mini police officers.”
Diversity, equity and inclusion at Greater Manchester Police
GMP considers diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to be a central element of its mission. By prioritising DEI, we are able to both attract and retain a diverse workforce, nurturing an inclusive culture where every employee feels valued and empowered to share their unique perspectives.
In addition to this, DEI reflects our commitment to mirroring the diverse communities we serve – our workforce should embody the varied perspectives, experiences, and identities that make our society rich and inclusive.
Observing the basic principles of DEI enables us to ensure that GMP is compliant with the Equality Act, that our staff are appropriately supported and that we are best placed to provide the best service for our public. In addition, we aim to cultivate representation within the force, in order to ensure GMP reflects the communities we serve: this aids us in building trust, confidence and engagement with the public.
The work of DEI is an ongoing process, requiring continuous learning, dialogue and commitment to long term change. One of our top internal priorities is to ensure all officers and staff are given ample opportunity to learn more about DEI and the opportunities it presents.
Staff support networks (SSNs) provide an additional voice for the workforce and enhanced support for staff. The networks feed issues into the DEI governance structure, and the organisation can ask SSNs to help with a variety of issues to improve service to the public. This includes providing assistance with equality impact assessments, where SSNs may be asked to inform the force of the impact of proposed policies.
You can learn more about the staff support networks and find out how to join them on the SSN intranet page, via Home > Wellbeing > Staff support networks.
To reinforce our commitment to DEI, we have revised and streamlined our strategy to better integrate these principles into all areas of our operations. This strategy comprises nine key objectives:
1. Increase representation of the workforce to more accurately represent the population of Greater Manchester, aiming to attract and retain the widest talent pool and ensure that all staff can reach their full potential.
2. Use a data-driven, evidence-based approach to inform all our decisions around DEI so they are transparent, explainable and free from bias.
3. Ensure all staff receive continuous professional development and training around DEI.
4. Continuously and proactively review our processes and policies to remain compliant with DEI legislation and ensure high quality, robust equality impact assessments are in place.
5. Create a psychologically safe culture where colleagues can tell us about themselves and their experiences knowing they will be listened to and supported.
6. Proactively seek engagement and collaboration with all communities and key strategic partners in Greater Manchester, to gain different perspectives, ideas and understanding and challenge so that together we can deliver an outstanding service to all communities.
7. Deal effectively, impartially and efficiently with all reported hate crime and incidents.
8. Treat all people who request our support fairly, equitably and according to their needs.
9. Continually review our operational policies, procedures and practices for evidence of disparity and take actions to address this.
Innovation in digital forensic evidence submission
On Wednesday 18 September, an all-new Digital Forensics Submission Portal (DFSP) launched at GMP. You can visit the DFSP intranet hub via Home > Operational Support > Digital Forensics Submission Portal.
To understand what the DFSP means for forensic investigations, we caught up with Head of Forensic Services Emily Burton, Digital Forensic and Technical Investigations Manager Dave J Smith and change expert Intikhab Bashir to tell us a little more about the innovation behind the system and the collaborative and timesaving benefits the new portal offers to frontline officers.
What made Forensic Services decide to bring in the Digital Forensics Submission Portal, and what problems does it solve? - Prior to the DFSP launching at GMP, officers and staff had to submit evidence to the digital forensic and CCTV teams using a variety of outdated systems, which proved time-consuming and inefficient.
To address this the Forensic Services team, with the help of change experts, procured a new system to replace the old technology with a more efficient and up-to-date solution and simplify the submission process. Rather than using two different methods, officers can now submit evidence through a single portal. This new system not only improves efficiency, it future-proofs GMP for upcoming digital services and forensic expansions.
How is submitted digital evidence through the new portal better than the old way of doing it? - The new DFSP is far more streamlined and user-friendly. It ensures that all the necessary information is gathered from officers on the first attempt, avoiding the back-and-forth that often caused delays in investigations. The system is designed to capture everything forensic teams need upfront, reducing errors and improving efficiency. The DFSP is aligned with GMP’s IT infrastructure, so can be used on all company laptops and mobile devices. Since the portal is web-based, officers can access it from anywhere securely, rather than having to log in at police stations via static computers. The system also incorporates legal measures, such as the DPN forms which are required for examining victims’ devices, and adds a forensic strategy and accountability layer, requiring inspectors at district-level staff to sign off on forms which ensure that evidence from victims’ devices is
handled appropriately, restored legally, and encrypted. The DFSP also enables better tracking and monitoring, ensuring that district teams complete submissions correctly, leading to more efficient use of staff time and ensuring the right information is provided from the outset. Ultimately, the DFSP uses technology to streamline processes, leading to quicker case resolutions and improved public outcomes. While it might seem at times that officers and staff are being asked to complete additional steps, all the processes presented in the new DFSP are in line with legal requirements. We have ensured from the offset that legal compliance has been built directly into this new submission process, to eliminate the need for separate processes and outdated procedures, allowing everything to be managed through a single platform. The DFSP is ahead of national efforts to develop similar systems, making it a leading example in this area. What features does the portal have to keep the digital evidence safe and secure? - The DFSP operates within GMP’s secure IT network, which recently upgraded its infrastructure to ensure that it meets security standards. All data submitted through the portal is encrypted and stored within GMP’s secure cloud environment. Historically, it used to be the case that we kept all our eggs in one basket, but we’ve built IT data security around an archiving system which, if it went down, would protect our data, and it would pop up again in a different environment. This move towards a secure cloud platform is a significant step forward in safeguarding digital evidence, no matter where it is accessed from.
How does the portal help different departments at GMP and/or partner agencies work together more easily? One of the biggest national challenges we’ve faced is having cases that involve other agencies or organisations, where officers at GMP were having to physically transport evidence across the UK to other forces due to the lack of cohesive systems. Now, CCTV and digital forensics teams, as well as district-level major investigations, can work together, sharing evidence and intelligence seamlessly.
For example, the Forensic Services and CCTV teams were historically two separate systems who couldn’t transfer evidence between them. Now it’s all unified into one system: a one-stop shop for everything digital. When we can replicate this approach across the country,
it will streamline collaboration between different forces. Nationally, teams are working on integrating everything into one national single case management system – how good would that be? What advice would you give to people using the new DFSP and where should they go if they need help with it? - Our main advice to staff is to be patient with us. This is a new system for everyone, and while we’re trying to make it as easy as possible to complete forms and submit evidence, we are asking for some additional information – however, these extra questions are crucial and will ultimately help us provide a better service. The more detailed information we receive upfront, the better we can assist in creating strategies and managing cases, like generating schedules of unused materials or necessary forms. It might seem like a bit more work at the start, but it brings significant benefits in the long run. The information staff provide in their submissions also allows us to appropriately prioritise cases based on the associated risk. This helps us safeguard the public more effectively, as we can recognise and manage risks much better with the system in place.
We understand there might be some initial teething issues, but we have a robust support system in place to resolve problems in real time. For example, when the system first went live, we had a team answering phones like a call centre to ensure any issues were dealt with immediately so that officers could submit evidence without delay. As we transition from hypercare to business-as-usual operations, staff will still be able to reach out to our unit for support.
What feedback have you received so far about the new DFSP? - Feedback has been mixed so far – some officers have mentioned there’s more information to fill in than they expected, but much of it is data they should have been capturing already. Now the process is digitalised, it’s quicker and easier to submit evidence from anywhere. Over time we believe staff will adjust and it will become the norm, much like learning to use a new phone –you pick it up quickly.
Additionally, we have a lot of resources available to help staff, such as training guides and support materials, which are linked through the learning skills portal. These resources will continue to grow as the system expands into other digital areas, providing staff with all the guidance they need.
Investigator wellbeing week of action
The week of Monday 11 to Friday 15 November 2024 will see a national week of action focusing on the wellbeing and mental health of police investigators.
Research into wellbeing in policing has found that, while investigators typically find their role very rewarding, it can have a significant impact on their health, with commonly cited issues including high workloads, high levels of responsibility and frequent exposure to trauma. The annual week of action is aimed at raising awareness of the key issues affecting investigator wellbeing and how they can be addressed; as well as promoting the latest edition of police wellbeing service Oscar Kilo’s investigator wellbeing toolkit, which can be found at https://www.oscarkilo.org. uk/resources/toolkits-and-campaigns/ wellbeing-investigators-toolkit.
Each day of the week of action will be devoted to a specific theme around investigator welfare, with a variety of daily webinars highlighting best practice, detailing personal experiences and promoting interactive engagement:
Monday 11 November: Leadership (managing wellbeing; recognition and reward; employee voice and engagement)
• 9am: National overview of the investigator wellbeing work to date
• 11am: Blue light wellbeing
• 2pm: Police Federation National Detectives’ Forum overview
Tuesday 12 November: Protect and prepare (managing wellbeing in investigations; preparing for the role; peer support)
• 9am: Post-fatal RTC decompression process
• 10am: Supporting secondary investigators and analysts
• 11:30am: Whodunnit? Ensuring effective investigator capacity and capability
• 2pm: Supporting investigator wellbeing in Herts Police
• 5pm: Presentation from the NYPD Special Victims division
Wednesday 13 November: Creating the environment (working environment; partnership working; trust and confidence)
• 9:30am: Senior investigating officer wellbeing
• 11am: Managing distressing content to minimise harm
• 1pm: Stress audit and interventions –Avon and Somerset
• 2pm: Secondary investigator and analysts – a personal story
• 9pm: join us on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn for a WeCops chat focusing on investigator wellbeing and tell us what impacts your resilience at work
Thursday 14 November: Mental health (mental health support; counselling and crisis support; ending stigma)
• 10am: Overview of psychological screening
• 2pm: Retirement – the STAR resettlement programme
Friday 15 November: Personal resilience (physical wellbeing; emotional and mental wellness; worklife balance)
• 10am: Op Soteria Bluestone update on findings relating to investigator wellbeing and development
• 12 noon: Structured professional support in Northants Police
• 1:30pm: Supporting emergency service workers following the death of a child or young person
• 3pm: Closing summary
You can book your place on any of these webinars at https://tinyurl. com/25nmhz56.
We spoke to GMP Ch Insp Martin Ashurst about the realities of trauma and mental wellbeing as a police investigator. He told us: “I feel we need to break the stigma around mental health and the impact that policing can have on people if we are not careful.
“As leaders we need to encourage our staff to look after themselves and seek help when required, with reassurance that it is not a weakness to ask for help.”
Can you share what prompted you to seek support from TRiM?
I referred myself to TRiM last year, as I was dealing with a number of challenging situations both in my personal life and at work and for the first time in my life I just felt completely overwhelmed with everything. I am very resilient and not in any way an emotional person, but my team and I had dealt with a challenging suicide of a child and I
distinctly remember debriefing my teams and checking on their welfare, scoping if any of them required counselling or occupational health referrals, while simultaneously feeling like I was having a breakdown myself.
Before accessing the service, did you have any reservations or concerns about reaching out for help? How did you overcome them?
The only reservations I had about accessing the service and asking for help revolved around the impact on my career and if it would be used against me. I had tried to avoid accessing any service for quite some time – I tried to power through the situation by exercising my way out of it, and this approach had a detrimental effect on my recovery.
What aspects of the trauma/TRiM process did you find most helpful in your recovery or coping with the incident?
The process of referring myself in was very straightforward; it was done in confidence and I was quickly able to gain access to Occupational Health, and to counselling services later down the line.
In your role as an investigator, how has this experience changed your approach to your work or your mental health?
Overall, I have been humbled by this experience and it has encouraged me to better acknowledge how I am feeling and not be complacent when it comes to processing trauma and grief. I have dealt with hundreds of deaths, including suicides of both adults and children, and always felt I had managed my mental health quite well; what tipped me over was dealing with the suicide of a young boy and aspects of that case then being present in my personal life, and it made me very poorly very quickly.
What would you say to someone in a similar role who might be struggling with a tough experience but is unsure about seeking support?
I want to encourage any of my colleagues to seek help: particularly detective inspectors and detective chief inspectors who are operating under immense pressure, constantly dealing with death and coronial matters, to pay close attention to how you are feeling and how you are processing what you have witnessed.
Introduction to the Prevention hub
The prevention hub at Stockport continues to target high demand generators across the district, with a view to problem solving and reducing the demand that they place on GMP and their partners.
One recent example is the work undertaken by our school engagement officer, who has been working closely with a young person who was generating high demand relating to anti-social behaviour, impacting on many businesses across Stockport town centre and across other districts.
The subject was linked to numerous reports of thefts, threats, public order and missing from home reports.
Our school engagement officer started to work with the youth to address their behaviour and associated demand, aiming to implement a partnership approach involving the prevention hub working with Social Services, Remedi, Youth Offending Service (YOS),
the individuals school, housing, the business community and other partners.
The young person was issued with an Acceptable Behaviour Contract with conditions around exclusion areas, restrictions and none associations.
These interventions were also implemented with their associates and escalated in some case through the various stages of the ladder of intervention to securing a Criminal Behaviour Orders in the case of the leading protagonist.
This has culminated in this ASB group becoming fragmented, be spoke problem solving has been undertaken around many of the individuals. They have now enrolled on a college course and they are resitting their core subjects to enhance their education and boost their qualifications, along with changing their friendship group and are no longer associated with crime or ASB.
Partners are continuing to work in collaboration, with the demand generated by this particular young person reducing by over 80% since our initial intervention and the individual being awarded Young Person of the Month at YOS in recognition of the positive progress they continue to make. An economic cost saving to GMP of over £400,000 has been achieved through reducing the demand generated by this individual and some of their associates.
PS Darren Stewart from Stockport’s prevention hub said: “It was fantastic to see what a positive impact the police and partners can have when we work in collaboration. This individual is no longer associated with crime or ASB our interventions have made a real difference to their future outlook, this has also resulted in a positive impact on many other people, partners and businesses.
Meet the team: Staff Engagement and Internal Communications
The Corporate Comms branch is the bridge between the force, its employees and the public.
The branch deals with all internal communication with employees and the media. Its main goals are to support operational policing and to increase public confidence. The branch is located on the ground floor at Greater Manchester Police Force Headquarters (GMPFHQ).
The Staff Engagement and Internal Communications team (SEIC) works to ensure that everyone across the force is kept up to date on important developments, initiatives, and changes that impact day-to-day operations. The team’s mission is to develop and deliver effective communication strategies and engagement activities. Whether it’s forcewide campaigns, operational updates, or changes in policies, the team makes sure that information reaches all GMP officers and staff.
The team consists of various roles, including: SEIC manager, SEIC team leaders and SEIC communications officers.
The internal team’s communication channels:
The internal team write and post all the articles you may read on the GMP Intranet. This is GMP’s go-to resource for the latest news, publications, training updates supportive and awareness pieces, and job vacancies. Here, you can find district-specific news that highlights achievements and events, making it easier to stay connected with what matters most to you.
The team sends out forcewide emails - an effective way to communicate important messages to the entire organisation. However, it is important to seek approval from an Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) before sending these out.
SEIC creates the monthly main Brief magazine which gives a full overview of significant achievements and successful operations across the force.
The team can use the At Hoc alerts app to send to all the force via email, text or app: this is best utilised for training, requesting feedback and
important force announcements.
The team also conducts surveys and focus groups with officers and staff within GMP to improve GMP’s working environment as well as overseeing the Engagement and Improvement Panel (EIP)
Any additional project work in your area must be at the request of a chief officer. You can do so via email to: staffengagement@gmp.police.uk. Any enquiries please contact: internal. comms@gmp.police.uk.
District policing which works for everyone.
For further support and guidance, visit the DOM hub on the force intranet (scan the QR code, or locate it under ‘operational support’)