As part of Operation Treacle, GMP’s partnership initiative to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB), PCSO Donovan Plunkett visited St John’s Primary School on 25 October to talk to Year 5 pupils about keeping safe over Halloween and Bonfire Night.
The presentation focused on ASB and fire safety advice and provided community engagement between the police and young people in our communities.
PCSO Plunkett said: “The presentation was well received by both the teachers and pupils, and the school has since posted about it in their Twitter/X page to make parents aware.
Since working in the area, I have built a very good rapport with the school and regularly visit to conduct inputs for different initiatives.”
Major Investigations Team recognised for their efforts in solving murder case
In September, GMP held its annual Chief Constable Awards. A night to recognise the outstanding achievements of colleagues across the force over the past year.
Operation Vestige took home the ward for Reactive Investigation of the Year. The operation focused on the investigation into the murder of Liam Smith, who was found dead in Shevington, Wigan, on November 24, 2022.
He had been fatally shot in the face and covered with chemicals. Despite having no criminal background, the circumstances of Liam’s death were traced to Michael Hillier and Rachel Fulstow, identified after a thorough review of intelligence and leads.
The investigation revealed that Liam and Fulstow had a brief encounter in 2019 after meeting on a dating app. This connection eventually led to the planning of Liam’s murder, which began in May 2022. Fulstow conducted extensive internet searches on Liam’s business, address, and terms related to premeditated murder. Meanwhile, Hillier purchased firearms in preparation for the crime.
Hillier travelled from Sheffield to Wigan on November 2, 2022, to perform surveillance on Liam’s home. On November 24, Hillier waited for 10 hours in a Mitsubishi Shogun with cloned plates outside Liam’s home before luring him out and shooting him with a shotgun.
Both Hillier and Fulstow were arrested and later convicted, with Hillier receiving a 33-year sentence and Fulstow 30 years for murder and perverting the course of justice.
Read more on page 2.
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 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, hospital liaison officers and more.
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.
Continued.
We had the chance to speak with one of the members of the operation, Inspector Lee Shaw.
• Can you tell us a bit more about the work you have been recognised for and what has been achieved?
Inspector Shaw said: “The award recognises the amount of hours the team put into investigating what initially was a murder investigation without any supporting evidence of who was responsible or any motive.
“It’s an unusual occurrence to investigate a ‘who’s done it’ type incident and certainly not when it comes to murder, however I know some of the team share my views on this; to investigate such a case is why we joined the Major Investigations Team (MIT).
“It took the team several weeks, some very long hours, including working on their rest days, to establish those responsible and then ultimately bring them to justice.
“This was a high-profile case, given it was committed within a quiet area, and also the ruthlessness shown by the offender, which was described in many press articles as an ‘execution of the victim outside his home address’. The combination of shooting the victim to the face then proceeding to use acid on the deceased body really attracted the public’s attention across the country.
“To get the case to court required support from many experts, including the National Crime Agencey (NCA), and it wasn’t without difficulties. But the team managed to deal with the many obstacles the case threw up and in the end, the defendants received lengthy prison sentences (34&30 years).”
• What does receiving the
Reactive Investigation of the Year award mean to the team?
Inspector Shaw said: “We don’t do this work to be recognised and to receive awards, we do this to ensure that families who are going through the most unimaginable pain and grief are provided with some small element of closure, by knowing those responsible are brought to justice.
“However, it is right that such work, as is this case for Operation Vestige, doesn’t go unnoticed and it was a pleasant surprise to be nominated. To win Reactive Investigation of the Year is testament to the hard work everyone involved put in.”
• Anything else you wish to add?
“I would like to thank every officer and team involved in the investigation from the first call, to the Police, right to the end of the conviction at Court, and that includes a number of partners that supported throughout.
“Special praise goes to Syndicate 7 because without their professionalism, tenacity, patience, and hard work, I would not be talking about the successful convictions of both offenders.
“This was the first Category A+ murder investigation the Syndicate had dealt with and it’s testament to their work that the investigation has been recognised at both district level, in the form of a Detective Chief Superintendent commendation, and also force level, with officers receiving a Chief Constable Commendation as well as the recent stars annual award for Reactive Investigation of the Year.
“As the Detective Inspector for syndicate 7, I am immensely proud of the team and the result we achieved on Operation Vestige.”
Neighbourhood officer thanked for helping to prevent store thefts
have all been very supportive and helpful to me and my team. He’s done everything he can to help stop it – so THANK YOU so much John and team, it’s very much appreciated.
The manager added: “We have had a fair few shoplifting incidents at our store over past few months and John and his colleagues
“Thank you for all your continued help and support, it has all been very much appreciated by me and the team.”
Staff members from Asda in Astley wrote in recently to thank NBO John Pilling (19347) “for all his hard work, support, help and commitment in helping us with our store thefts.”
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.
Growing Bee in the Loop across the force
Bee in the Loop launched in March 2023 and our subscription numbers have grown substantially since then, thanks to the messages that have already been sent out by our workforce.
So far, across Greater Manchester 27,135 members have signed up to receive targeted messaging about the issues that matter the most to them in their communities, which are sent to them directly to them via email.
Thank you to everyone who has been actively sending messages via Bee in the Loop to engage with their communities.
Our top three districts for new subscribers this month are:
Salford with 515 new members.
Bolton with 440 new members.
Oldham with 191 new members.
To the side of this article, you will see the latest Bee in the Loop members numbers for all districts.
Keep up the great work!
If you have any questions regarding access to Bee in the Loop please get in touch with Rash Siddiquee at rashed. siddiquee@gmp.police.uk. For support with content or Bee in the Loop materials, contact Jessica Allen-Millbank at jessica.allenmillbank@gmp.police.uk.
Meet the Internal Communications and Staff Engagement team
The Corporate Comms branch is the bridge between the force, it’s employees and the public.
The branch deals with all internal communication with employees and the media. Its main goal is 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 Internal Communications and Staff Engagement team (ICSE) 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: ICSE manager, ICSE team
leaders and ICSE communications officers.
Internal communications 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.
ICSE also publish monthly articles for the Brief which gives a full overview of significant achievements and successful operations across the force.
In addition, AtHoc is an alerts app that the team can use 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, and it is strictly monitored and maintained.
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’)
