Greater Manchester Police#Air Support Unit

File:Greater Manchester Police officers in Piccadilly Gardens (Manchester, England) 2.jpg]]

Greater Manchester Police was directly created from two recently amalgamated city police forces, Manchester and Salford Police and parts of what were Lancashire Constabulary, Cheshire Constabulary and West Yorkshire Constabulary on 1 April 1974. The city forces were Manchester Borough Police, which formed in the late 1830s and Salford Borough Police, which began in 1844. Upon Manchester gaining city status in 1853, its police force changed its name to Manchester City Police to reflect its status. In 1926, Salford also became a city, resulting in Salford Borough Police becoming Salford City Police. These two city forces operated until 1968 when, as a result of compulsory amalgamation, as per the Police Act 1964, Salford City Police merged with Manchester City Police, resulting in the new force of Manchester and Salford Police. This new force lasted only six years, when in 1974 the Local Government Act 1972 created the Metropolitan County of Greater Manchester and with it, Greater Manchester Police. An increase of {{convert|284241|acre}} in terms of policing area and 2,267,090 people over the abolished Manchester and Salford Police.{{Cite book|title=Police Reference: England and Wales|last=Clark|first=Peter|publisher=Amazon|year=2015|isbn=978-0-9858978-0-2|location=United States |pages=E–1785}}

Indirectly, GMP can also trace its heritage to a number of other borough forces, each with their own significant history, which had been abolished in the late 1960s (under the Police Act 1964) and which had been amalgamated into the county forces of Lancashire and Cheshire. These two county forces only policed these boroughs for around six years before Greater Manchester was created and GMP took over responsibility for providing police services. In the historic Lancashire county area these borough police forces were Bolton Borough Police (1839–1969), Oldham Borough Police (1849–1969), Rochdale Borough Police (1857–1969) and Wigan Borough Police (1836–1969). In the historic Cheshire county area this included Stockport Borough Police (at least 1835–1967).

The first chief constable of GMP was William James Richards. Richards had been the chief constable of the short lived Manchester and Salford Police (1968 to 1974) and before that chief constable of Manchester City Police (1966 to 1968). Following his retirement on 30 June 1976, James Anderton became the new chief constable on 1 July 1976.{{Cite book|title=Police Reference: England and Wales|last=Clark|first=Peter|publisher=Amazon|year=2015|isbn=978-0-9858978-0-2|location=United States |page=E–1786}}

Anderton was a controversial figure during his 15 years in office due to his outspoken style of leadership and hardline views on crime, policing and morality.

In 1991, David Wilmot succeeded Anderton. In 2002, Michael J. Todd was appointed to chief constable until his death in 2008.

There was much press coverage of Todd's death in March 2008.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7290359.stm|title=Top UK police chief is found dead|access-date=11 March 2008| work=BBC News | date=11 March 2008}} Todd was seen as a man of action and got more "bobbies on the beat", with himself often doing so.{{Cite news |title=Manchester police chief Michael Todd found dead at bottom of cliff |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1581401/Manchester-police-chief-Michael-Todd-found-dead-at-bottom-of-cliff.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=12 March 2008}} GMP's Deputy Chief Constable became the acting chief constable until the appointment of Peter Fahy, previously head of Cheshire Police, as chief constable in September 2008.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7521878.stm | title = Manchester police chief revealed| work = BBC News website | access-date = 23 July 2008 | date=23 July 2008}}

Police constable Ian Rodgers was the first GMP officer to be killed in the line of duty in 1975. His death occurred in a railway incident at Stockport. Since the formation of GMP, 20 officers have been killed or died in the line of duty.{{cite web|url=http://www.policememorial.org.uk/Forces/Greater_Manchester/Greater_Manchester_Roll.htm |title=Greater Manchester Roll |publisher=Police Roll of Honour Trust |date=29 August 2008 |access-date=28 January 2011}} GMP then assisted with the reconstruction of Manchester following the 1996 Manchester bombing.

In the 1990s, Manchester had gained the deriding tag of 'Gunchester', in reference to the city's high gun crime rate at the time.{{Cite news |title=Killings put 'Gunchester' back on crime map |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/jan/14/ukguns.martinwainwright |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 January 2000}} Greater Manchester Police faced the problem of gun crime in Manchester, particularly in the deprived districts in south Manchester. Key gang leaders were jailed for life in 2009.{{Cite news |title=Guilty: the men who turned Manchester into Gunchester |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/guilty-the-men-who-turned-manchester-into-gunchester-1664444.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=7 April 2009}}

By 2011, the city had shaken off the tag.{{Cite news |title=Gunchester is a label of the past, claims GMP chief Peter Fahy as gang shootings plummet |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/crime/s/1417637_gunchester-is-a-label-of-the-past-claims-gmp-chief-peter-fahy-as-gang-shootings-plummet |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=11 April 2011}}

On 14 October 2010, Greater Manchester Police posted details of all calls made to them in a 24-hour period on Twitter.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11549069 |title=BBC News – Twitter shows Greater Manchester Police's 3,205 calls |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=15 October 2010 |access-date=28 January 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11537806 |title=BBC News – Twitter feed for all Greater Manchester Police work |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=15 October 2010 |access-date=28 January 2011}} The service posted details of every incident reported to its officers in 24 hours to demonstrate how much of their time is spent on what the chief constable called "social work" instead of fighting crime.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11537806|title = Twitter feed for all Greater Manchester Police work|work = BBC News|date = 15 October 2010}} They repeated this exercise on 14 October 2014.{{cite web|author=John Scheerhout |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/greater-manchester-police-post-every-7929699 |title= Greater Manchester Police to post every single incident it deals with in the next 24 hours on Twitter |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=14 October 2014 |access-date=14 October 2014}}

GMP have used social media as a helpful force rather than a hindrance. In the 2011 England riots, with criticism of the role social media such as Twitter and Facebook had in instigating the riots,{{Cite news |title=Social media's role in the riots |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14457809 |work=BBC |date=9 August 2011}} GMP stated that support on social media had resulted in many responses from members of the public in trying to catch suspects.{{Cite news |title=Police inundated with calls to 'Shop A Looter' scheme |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14515631 |work=BBC |date=13 August 2011}} GMP then named and shamed any individuals convicted due to their involvement in the riots.{{Cite news |title=Riots: Greater Manchester Police dishes out Tweet justice |url=http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2011/08/12/24768-riots-greater-manchester-police-dishes-out-tweet-justice/ |work=thedrum.co.uk}}

• 1974–1976 : William James Richards
• 1976–1991 : Sir James Anderton
• 1991–2002 : Sir David Wilmot
• 2002–2008 : Michael J. Todd
• 2008–2015 : Sir Peter Fahy
• 2015–2020 : Ian Hopkins
• 2020–2021 : Ian Pilling (acting)
• 2021–present : Stephen Watson{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-57256098 | work = BBC News | date = 28 May 2021 | title = Greater Manchester Police chief vows to revive 'underperforming' force | access-date=29 May 2021}}

{{see also|List of British police officers killed in the line of duty}}

The following officers of Greater Manchester Police are listed by the Police Roll of Honour Trust as having died during the course of their duties:[http://www.policememorial.org.uk/index.php?page=greater-manchester-police Police Roll of Honour Trust]

• PC Fiona Bone, 2012 (killed in firearm and grenade attack; cause of death gunshot wound to the chest)
• PC Nicola Hughes, 2012 (killed in firearm and grenade attack; cause of death gunshot wounds)
• PC Christopher Hart, 2010 (Died in a road traffic incident while on duty responding to a 999 call){{cite web|title=Greater Manchester Police 'Tributes to road crash PC' |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tributes-to-road-crash-pc-939513 |work=MEN |date=16 April 2010|access-date=27 September 2015}}
• PC Ian Terry, 2008 (shot during a firearms training exercise){{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29243771|title=PC Ian Terry death: GMP officer 'required to resign'|work=BBC News|date=17 September 2014|access-date=27 September 2015}}
• PC Allan Shaw, 2006 (died as a result of a Motor Cycle RTC during a special escort training exercise){{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7775076.stm|title=BBC NEWS – UK – England – Manchester – Motorcycle Pc crash 'accidental'|date=10 December 2008|access-date=27 September 2015}}
• DC Stephen Oake, 2003 (stabbed during anti-terrorism operation, posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal)
• PC Alison Armitage, 2001 (run over by a car thief){{Cite web |title=Alison Armitage |url=https://gmpmuseum.co.uk/roh-item/alison-armitage/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Greater Manchester Police |language=en-GB}}
• PC Raja Bashrat Ahmed, 1999 (Police motorcycle rammed into oncoming traffic by car thief)
• PC Robert Nathans, 1999 (collapsed and died after pursuing a suspect){{Cite web |title=Robert Nathans |url=https://gmpmuseum.co.uk/roh-item/robert-nathans/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Greater Manchester Police |language=en-GB}}
• Inspector Raymond Anthony Codling, 1989 (shot while questioning a suspect on car park at Birch Services M62)
• DC John Sandford, 1982 (attacked while investigating reports of an indecent assault){{Cite web |title=John Sandford |url=https://gmpmuseum.co.uk/roh-item/john-sandford/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Greater Manchester Police |language=en-GB}}
• PC John Egerton, 1982 (stabbed during an arrest, posthumously awarded Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct){{Cite web |title=John Egerton |url=https://gmpmuseum.co.uk/roh-item/john-egerton/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=Greater Manchester Police |language=en-GB}}

File:GMP North.jpg]]

From November 2012 to May 2017, the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner was Tony Lloyd. The police and crime commissioner was scrutinised by the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel, made up of elected councillors from the local authorities in the police area. Before November 2012 the Greater Manchester Police Authority was the police governance. However, under new plans for an elected Mayor of Greater Manchester announced by George Osborne in November 2014, the position of Police and Crime Commissioner was removed and its responsibilities subsumed into the mayoral office.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2014/nov/03/devo-manc-powers-greater-manchester-mayor|title=What powers will the new mayor of Greater Manchester have?|author=Jane Dudman|work=The Guardian|date=3 November 2014|access-date=27 September 2015}} The first Mayoral election took place in 2017, in which Andy Burnham was elected mayor.

The area GMP polices is split into geographical divisions, with each Metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester being assigned one. In 2021, GMP grouped some divisions together to form command areas, the divisions that remain on their own are also still referred to as a command area. Each command area is run by a chief superintendent, with each 'division' or 'cluster' being led by a superintendent.

{{As of|2021|3}}, these are the six command areas:{{cite web | url = https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2021/march/greater-manchester-police-has-appointed-two-additional-chief-superintendents-as-part-of-a-local-policing-restructure/ | publisher = Greater Manchester Police | date = 3 March 2021 | title = Greater Manchester Police has appointed two additional Chief Superintendents as part of a local policing restructure | access-date=23 April 2021}}

• South command area (Stockport (J) & Trafford (M) Divisions)
• East command area (Tameside (G) & Oldham (Q) Divisions)
• City of Manchester command area (City of Manchester (A) Division)
• Salford command area (Salford (F) Division)
• North command area (Bury (N) & Rochdale (P) Divisions)
• West command area (Bolton (K) & Wigan (L) Divisions)

Manchester Airport (I) Division falls within the Specialist Operations branch.

{{more citations needed section|date=September 2023}}

File:GMP_BMW_ANPR_Interceptor_responding_(cropped).jpg

GMP also operates a Road Policing Unit (RPU) responsible for all traffic policing in the county, which includes over {{convert|280|mi|km|sigfig=2}} of motorway. In 2009, the RPU's were divided into three strategic units, based at RPU 1 Leigh, RPU 2 Hyde & RPU 3 Chadderton. Due to the constraints on budgets and the latest review, the Road Policing Unit will lose a further 78 officers and in 2012 restructured/reduced to two RPU's based at Eccles and Chadderton. This has reduced the strength of the RPU to only 100 officers over a 5 shift system providing only 20 officers per shift to cover the police area. 2014 has seen this further reduced to 10–12 officers working the force area per shift as further cuts reduce officer numbers.{{update inline|date=September 2023}}

In response to a rise in vehicle-related crime across Greater Manchester in the early 1980s, GMP formed the Traffic Area Support Services (TASS) unit,{{cite news |last=Ward |first=Keith |title=Stopping the wild bunch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-stopping-the-wil/133367774/ |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=26 June 1981 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=23 December 2023}}{{cite news |last=Alderson |first=Graeme |title=Car crime busters! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/stockport-express-car-crime-busters/133367792/ |newspaper=Stockport Express |date=16 May 1990 |page=56 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=23 December 2023}} which among other vehicles, operated using a fleet of marked Ford Capris,{{cite news |last=Ward |first=Keith |title=Your Capris are just wonderful – say the policemen |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-your-capris-are/133367741/ |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=8 April 1987 |page=25 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=23 December 2023}}{{cite news |last=Keeling |first=Noel |title=End of the road |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-end-of-the-road/133367749/ |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=28 February 1992 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=23 December 2023}} as well as unmarked Lotus Sunbeam cars, which were externally downgraded to appear as a regular Talbot Sunbeam.{{cite web |last=Macauley |first=Iain |title=The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus: rally legend and the ultimate undercover cop car |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/talbot-sunbeam-lotus |website=GQ |date=5 April 2021 |access-date=20 September 2023}}{{cite news |last=Clowes |first=John |title=More power and colour for police |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/stockport-advertiser-more-power-and-colo/133557906/ |newspaper=Stockport Express |date=15 January 1981 |page=70 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=23 December 2023}} By the early 1990s, TASS had been replaced by the Tactical Vehicle Crime Unit (TVCU), operating a majority-unmarked high-performance fleet which included Ford Escort XR3i and Ford Sierra RS Cosworth cars.{{cite book |last=Anstead |first=Ant |author-link=Ant Anstead |title=Cops and Robbers: The Story of the British Police Car |date=2018 |publisher=HarperCollins |location=London |isbn=978-0-00-824451-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eDTuAQAACAAJ |pages=237–240 |access-date=20 September 2023}} This unit notably featured in the 1995 fly on the wall six-part BBC documentary X-Cars, albeit referred to as 'X Department', which attracted 12 million viewers on the series' first airing and resulted in the TVCU receiving an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the public.{{cite news |last=Finnegan |first=Matt |title=Car crime's X-files |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-car-crimes-x-fi/133367805/ |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=21 August 1997 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=23 December 2023}}

In 2010, the TVCU was replaced by Vortex, which was based at Stretford Police Station. In June 2011, The Tactical Vehicle Crime Unit was reformed under the slightly different name of the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit. The unit continued to utilise a selection of high performance unmarked vehicles and officers worked alongside the ANPR Intercept Unit to combat serious and organised criminals using the road network.

In 2016, the unit merged with firearms, dogs and the Tactical Aid Unit to form the Specialist Operations Branch.

The Roads Policing Unit (RPU) and TVIU often work hand in hand in implementing certain tactics such as Tactical Pursuit and Containment for which the TVIU & RPU are the only departments trained in this field.

File:Britten norman defender g-gmpb at manchester arp.jpg

Aviation support has been provided to the GMP by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) since 2012. NPAS operates a EurocopterEC135 T2+ helicopter call sign NPAS 21 from Manchester Barton Aerodrome,{{cite web |title=UK & Ireland Police Helicopter Operations A-M |url=http://www.ukemergencyaviation.co.uk/policehelicopteram.htm |website=UK Emergency Aviation |access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702025856/http://www.ukemergencyaviation.co.uk/policehelicopteram.htm |url-status=dead }}

which provides support to all neighbouring police forces.

GMP had formed an Air Support Unit in 1989.{{cite news |title=GMP's new eye in the sky|work=Brief – the voice of Greater Manchester Police |url=http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/FEED89365BCADBCA802574FA004ED8D5/$file/Brief%20November%202008.pdf|publisher=Greater Manchester Police |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017014612/http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/FEED89365BCADBCA802574FA004ED8D5/$file/Brief%20November%202008.pdf|archive-date=17 October 2012 |pages=10–11 |date=November 2008}} GMP's first helicopter was a Eurocopter AS355 Twin Squirrel. In {{circa}} 2001, the GMP was operating a McDonnell Douglas MD 902 Explorer helicopter call sign India 99 which remained in service until 2008. The MD 902 Explorer flew more than 8,000 hours dealing with around 5,500 incidents and was involved in the arrest of more than 700 criminals. In 2008, a new MD Helicopters MD 902 Explorer entered service to replace the older helicopter.{{Cite news |title=Police unveil new helicopter |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1066862_police_unveil_new_helicopter |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=16 September 2008 |access-date=14 August 2011}}

Prior to the establishment of NPAS in 2012, the Air Support Unit had amalgamated with Cheshire Constabulary, North Wales Police and Lancashire Constabulary to form the North West Air Operations Group (NWAOG) in July 2011, operating four helicopters. The group was established to save money and provide flexibility with the closest helicopter able to be deployed to an incident and if there were two incidents in the same force area then two helicopters could be sent if necessary.{{Cite news |title=New service to provide police helicopters |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11627331 |work=BBC |date=26 October 2010}}{{Cite news |title=Merseyside Police to share helicopters with North Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire and Manchester forces |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/07/18/merseyside-police-to-share-helicopters-with-north-wales-cheshire-lancashire-and-manchester-forces-92534-29071373/ |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |date=18 July 2011}}

The Air Support Unit had also operated a fixed wing aircraft. In January 2002, GMP ordered a Britten-Norman Defender 4000 fixed wing aircraft for the Commonwealth Games in July.{{cite press release |title=Defender 4000 ordered by Greater Manchester Police |url=http://www.britten-norman.co.uk/news/index.htm |website=Britten-Norman |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020603211215/http://www.britten-norman.co.uk/news/index.htm |archive-date=3 June 2002 |date=15 January 2002 |access-date=8 March 2020 |url-status=dead }} In July, GMP began operating the Defender call sign India 66 for the Games which flew on average seven hours a day.{{cite web |title=Chief Constable's Annual Report 2002-2003 |url=http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/0A4921D51988F36080257103004CA1BF/$file/CCAR02-03.pdf |website=Greater Manchester Police |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003061910/http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/0A4921D51988F36080257103004CA1BF/$file/CCAR02-03.pdf |archive-date=3 October 2006}}{{cite press release |title=Manchester Police Defender 4000 Delivered |url=http://www.bnhistorians.co.uk/ |publisher=Britten-Norman |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040328003239/http://www.bnhistorians.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 March 2004|via=BN Historians}} The Defender flew around 1,200 hours each year including targeting terrorists and major criminals.{{cite news |last1=Scheerhout |first1=John |title=Hush-hush spy plane belonging to Greater Manchester Police is retired after 10,000 hours of secret missions |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/britten-norman-spy-manchester-police-9692598 |access-date=1 March 2020 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=20 July 2015}} The Defender was decommissioned in December 2013. In the United Kingdom, two other police services have also operated the Defender 4000 {{ndash}} the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Hampshire Constabulary.

GMP also trialled a tethered blimp in 2010 to provide surveillance for major events and high crime locations. The blimp was only used on 18 occasions and was sold due to operational problems.{{Cite news |title=GMP's £80,000 police spy blimp is grounded – by the Manchester weather |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1370943_gmps_80000_police_spy_blimp_is_grounded__by_the_manchester_weather |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=11 November 2010 |access-date=15 August 2011 |archive-date=12 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112200402/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1370943_gmps_80000_police_spy_blimp_is_grounded__by_the_manchester_weather |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Flying high with new crime-fighting blimp|work=Brief – the voice of Greater Manchester Police |url=http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/25A581C8B22561B9802576D4003651F9/$file/Brief%20February%202010.pdf|publisher=Greater Manchester Police |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017014513/http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/25A581C8B22561B9802576D4003651F9/$file/Brief%20February%202010.pdf|archive-date=17 October 2012 |pages=14|date=February 2010}}

File:Riotpolicemanchester.jpg]]

GMP operates a Tactical Aid Unit which is deployed for crowd control and riot policing. The service has policed notable riots such as the 2001 Oldham race riots, the 2008 UEFA Cup final riots and the 2011 England riots which affected Salford and Manchester city centre in 2011.

The SCD is a unit of GMP responsible for dealing with serious crimes and providing protection for vulnerable people.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/FBBBC53B3BDE4B4D802575990041CDDC/$file/Brief%20April%202009.pdf |title=GMP Staff magazine April 2009 pg12 |access-date=16 November 2012 |archive-date=11 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511141641/http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/FBBBC53B3BDE4B4D802575990041CDDC/$file/Brief%20April%202009.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The GMP Counter Terrorism Unit was formed in April 2007 to prevent the spread of terrorism.{{Cite news |title=Counter terrorism |url=http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/counterterrorisminformation.htm |work=GMP}} The city has experienced incidents with the intention to spread terror, such as the 1996 Manchester Bombing and the Manchester Arena bombing. Most recently, the unit helped thwart the 2009 plot to launch terror attacks on the Trafford Centre, Arndale Centre and nearby St Ann's Square.{{Cite news |title=Al-Qaeda terror plot to bomb Easter shoppers |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/5133535/Al-Qaeda-terror-plot-to-bomb-Easter-shoppers.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=9 April 2009}}

{{See also|Police use of firearms in the United Kingdom}}

Officers of the GMP, as in the rest of Great Britain, do not routinely carry firearms. Instead, the GMP maintains a firearms unit to provide them with a capability to deal with armed criminals. The Greater Manchester Police, Tactical Firearms Unit maintains Armed Response Vehicles, which transport armed officers to the scene.

File:GMP mounted.jpg]]

The GMP maintains a mounted policing capability. The mounted officers are employed to target crime hotspots and are also seen at many events including demonstrations and the region's football matches. Horses are also used to search inaccessible areas for missing or wanted people. The unit is made up of a team of specialist police officers, skilled grooms and trainers, and 35 horses. The mounted unit is based at Hough End, in Chorlton, and uses horseboxes to transport the horses for duties around Greater Manchester.

GMP has over 183 special constables, who are assigned to each of the twelve divisions. Special constables work alongside their regular counterparts and are mainly assigned to divisions and work within local policing teams (LPTs), however some divisions still allow officers to work within response teams when LPT's are not on duty. Between 2009 and 2012, a small number of special constables were integrated into the Special Operations Department (X – Depart) working within the Road Policing Units (RPU's), undertaking a full and complete duties within the traffic department.

In addition there are a number of special constables engaged, with support of their employers in the Employee Supported Policing scheme.{{Cite web|url=https://www.citizensinpolicing.net/employers-scheme/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821225543/https://www.citizensinpolicing.net/employers-scheme/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=21 August 2019|title=Employer Supported Policing Opportunities Scheme|website=Citizens in Policing|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-21}} This is where the officers employer supports the officers duties, usually with paid time, 8 hours per month are commonly covered to undertake their special constabulary duties at their normal place of work.

Special constables are normally coordinated by the chief officer of the special constabulary, currently Michael Walmsley, and divisional commanders. Under the guidance of the chief constable, it was envisaged that the number of special constables within GMP would increase to 1,000 officers, within a three-year period from 2009, to date this target has not been achieved.

{{Main|Forward Intelligence Team#Similar police units}}

This unit conducts overt surveillance of certain released prisoners and upload some footage onto YouTube of people that they believe have reoffended.{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1056246_putting_criminals_in_the_picture |title=Putting criminals in the picture |last=Dowling |first=Nicola |date=1 July 2008 |publisher=Manchester Evening News |access-date=8 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007204305/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1056246_putting_criminals_in_the_picture |archive-date=7 October 2008 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1084169_cops_issue_video_of_thug |title=Cops issue video of thug |last=Dowling |first=Nicola |date=8 December 2008 |publisher=Manchester Evening News |access-date=8 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505042940/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1084169_cops_issue_video_of_thug |archive-date=5 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}

Greater Manchester Police has eight specialist Major Incident syndicates.{{Cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/quarter-greater-manchester-polices-top-7775773|title = A quarter of Greater Manchester Police's top detectives are now working on historic sex abuse cases|date = 16 September 2014}}

The Transport Unit was created in November 2019. Its role involves proactively tackling crime and disorder across Greater Manchester's public transport system, including roads, buses, trams and interchanges. The unit consists of 56 police officers, replacing previous initiatives that saw PCSOs patrolling the transport network.{{cite news | url = https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/last-proper-police-officers-back-17335766 | work = Manchester Evening News | title = At last! Proper police officers are back on Metrolink and people love it | first = John | last = Scheerhout | date = 29 November 2019 | access-date = 15 April 2021}}

Greater Manchester Police is a partner in the following collaborations:

• North West Police Underwater Search & Marine Unit
• North West Motorway Police Group

{{Further|Police ranks of the United Kingdom}}

The rank structure that the Greater Manchester Police use is the same as all other British territorial police forces, excluding London.

{{British Police Rank Insignia}}

The Greater Manchester Police also have a special constabulary with five ranks.

{{GMP Special Rank Insignia}}

These are the numbers of police officers for each rank:

{{British Police Rank Numbers|Title= Greater Manchester Police Workforce

|FPS=2124|FPSV=97|FDO=246|FPCSO=256|FSC=90|FC=1642|FS=268|FI=66|FCI=33|FSup=16|FCSup=3|FCO=1

|MPS=1195|MPSV=78|MDO=246|MPCSO=375|MSC=275|MC=3375|MS=746|MI=235|MCI=73|MSup=30|MCSup=11|MCO=6

|Year=2019}}

In June 2017, less than a month after the Manchester Arena bombing, the Chief Constable of GMP, Ian Hopkins, said the force was under strain due to funding cuts. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, intended to write to the Prime Minister claiming that the GMP was up to its limits "and probably beyond them". In March 2010 there was a total workforce of 13,189 staff, but projections suggested there would be only 10,108 by 2020. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) maintained that the number of police officers would reduce by 1,800 over the next ten years. Burnham feared that pressure on the GMP was increasing due to terrorism and also because of a rise in violent crime in the region. Burnham told The Guardian, "There’s no question about it: GMP needs more officers. They are at their limits, probably beyond them, in terms of what they are dealing with. The chief constable has described it as the low end of reasonable. Therefore, that’s borderline unreasonable."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/12/greater-manchester-police-under-real-strain-due-to-cuts-says-chief |author=Helen Pidd |title=Greater Manchester police under real strain due to cuts, says chief |date=12 June 2017 |access-date=12 June 2017 |work=The Guardian}}

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) conducts a periodic police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL) inspection of each police service's performance. In its latest PEEL inspection, Greater Manchester Police was rated as follows:{{cite web | url = https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/peel-assessment-2021-22-greater-manchester.pdf| title = PEEL 2021/22 Police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy: An inspection of Greater Manchester Police | publisher = Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services | date = 3 March 2022 | access-date = 5 March 2022}}

• The 1981 Moss Side riot began when 1,000 youths surrounded the police station in Moss Side, smashing all the windows and destroying 12 vehicles. It was followed by 48 hours of rioting.{{cite news | url = https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/moss-side-riots-the-night-years-864536 | title = Moss Side riots: The night years of anger exploded in an orgy of violence | work = Manchester Evening News | date = 4 July 2011 | access-date = 9 May 2021}}
• 1996 Manchester bombing. On 15 June 1996, the Irish Republican Army placed a {{convert|3300|lb|abbr=on}} bomb in Manchester city centre on Corporation Street, the largest bomb in the United Kingdom since World War II. GMP officers, assisted by other emergency services, evacuated 80,000 people, from the first tip-off at approximately 10:00 a.m. until 11:16 a.m., when the bomb exploded.{{Cite news |title=Pictures and video: 15 years on, the day the Manchester IRA bomb changed our city forever |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1423651_pictures-and-video-15-years-on-the-day-the-manchester-ira-bomb-changed-our-city-forever |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=15 June 2011 |access-date=22 March 2012}} Hundreds were injured, many from shard of glass, but there were no fatalities. {{As of|2022|September}}, no one has been charged.{{Cite news |date=2022-09-09 |title=Manchester IRA 1996 bomb: Man arrested at Birmingham Airport |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-62850703 |access-date=2025-01-11 |language=en-GB}}
• Gun crime in south Manchester, 1995–2009 – gun crime in south Manchester peaked in 1999 with 43 gun-related injuries and seven fatalities and continued until the early 2000s. Manchester went a year without a gun related fatality from February 2008 to 2009 for the first time in over a decade.{{Cite news |title=Gunchester no more? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/feb/03/gun-crime-manchester-communities-police |newspaper=The Guardian |date=3 February 2009 |access-date=18 September 2012}} This reduction is attributed to the jailing of 11 members of the Gooch Gang in 2009 and the service's Xcalibre unit, which tackles gang and gun-related crime and violence – deterring individuals from joining gangs and reducing the availability of firearms.{{Cite news |title=Patrolling Manchester's gang flashpoints |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12319374 |work=BBC News |date=31 January 2011 |access-date=18 September 2012}} As of 2012, gun crime in south Manchester is now rare.
• Harold Shipman, 1998 – Shipman was a doctor who murdered his patients. Shipman's proven victims totalled 218 making him the most prolific serial killer in history.{{Cite news |date=5 January 2001 |title=Shipman 'may have killed 236' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1101480.stm |work=BBC News}}
• In 2001, ethnic violence led to the Oldham riots, which saw 15 police officers injured and 32 police vehicles destroyed.
• Alleged racism – in 2003, video evidence emerged documenting racist acts by police trainees and officers, including one member applauding Hitler and another donning a Ku Klux Klan outfit. Flagrant use of racist language to deride other police trainees was also reported.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3212442.stm|title=Anger after police racism film|date=22 October 2003|work=BBC News}}
• Operation Augusta, from 2003 – following the death of a 15-year-old orphaned girl while in the care of Manchester social services, the police launched an operation which identified at least 57 children at risk of sexual abuse and up to 97 possible abusers, but which was prematurely closed down; a follow-up Operation Green Jacket, active in 2019, identified 53 potential victims.{{cite news|title=Manchester sex abuse: Exploited children 'were not protected'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-51093159|work=BBC News|date=14 January 2020|access-date=15 January 2020}}
• 2008 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup final riots (also known as the Battle of Piccadilly). The 2008 UEFA Cup final was on on 14 May 2008. Some Rangers fans instigated scuffles and disorder before the match had started and when the video screen broke during the match, the disorder descended into riots.
• Summer 2011 England riots – the riots originally started in London on Saturday 6 August, and in response GMP sent 100 riot police officers on Tuesday 9 August.{{Cite news |title=GMP dispatch 100 police officers to London after third night of rioting |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1455081_gmp-dispatch-100-police-officers-to-london-after-third-night-of-rioting |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=9 August 2011}} Riots with opportunist looting broke out in Manchester city centre on the evening of 9 August.
• Shooting of Anthony Grainger on 3 March 2012, an unarmed man was shot and killed by armed police during an operation. In 2017, a public inquiry was held. The report into Grainger's death concluded that Greater Manchester Police were to blame for his death due to their failures.
• Manchester Arena bombing, 22 May 2017 – an explosion occurred at the end of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people, and injuring 59. GMP had a heavy police response, with many general duties officers and firearms officers descending on the scene.{{Cite news |title=Manchester Arena explosion: 19 dead, 50 injured in 'terror incident' at Ariana Grande concert |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-23/manchester-arena-explosion-police-responding-live/8549574 |work=ABC News (Australia) |date=23 May 2017}}
• GMP placed into special measures, 18 December 2020 – Greater Manchester Police was placed into special measures following a 'damning inquiry has found one in five crimes were not recorded – and more than 80,000 hadn't been investigated properly'. Following the announcement, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins resigned.
• A 2022 independent review into child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester found that child sex abuse victims were failed by Greater Manchester Police and the Oldham Council.{{Cite news |date=2022-06-20 |title=Oldham child sex abuse victims failed by police and council, report says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-61863603 |access-date=2025-01-11 |language=en-GB}} Police had ignored some victims; for example, in October 2006 a twelve year old girl tried to report to the Oldham police station that she was sexually assaulted. She was told by the station to leave and only return if she was "not drunk". The girl was then raped in the car which took her from the station and then raped multiple times by five different men in a house.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-61863603 The review found that Shabir Ahmed, subsequently convicted as a ringleader of a British Pakistani grooming gang, had been employed by Oldham Council as a welfare rights officer and seconded to the Oldham Pakistani Community Centre.https://news.sky.com/story/oldham-grooming-report-finds-police-and-councils-failed-to-protect-some-children-from-sexual-exploitation-12637246https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-61863603 The review also found that "children had been failed by the agencies that were meant to protect them because child protection procedures had not been properly followed".{{cite news |title=Grooming gang ringleader was employed by Oldham Council as welfare officer, major report reveals |url=https://news.sky.com/story/oldham-grooming-report-finds-police-and-councils-failed-to-protect-some-children-from-sexual-exploitation-12637246 |work=Sky News |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Oldham child sex abuse victims failed by police and council, report says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-61863603 |date=20 June 2022}}{{cite news |title=Oldham abuse: Mayor booed as survivor addresses meeting |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-61968760 |date=28 June 2022}}

• In 2022, GMP searched the area of the Moors murders (1963–1965) without success in finding the body of the final victim, Keith Bennett.
• Manchester Airport, 23 July 2024 – footage circulated online of an armed officer kicking and stamping on a suspect's head in Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport. GMP said in a statement afterward this was in response to a "violent assault" on three officers, who had been called over an alleged altercation. The officer has since been suspended and reported to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The incident was followed by a protest outside Rochdale Police Station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7259wpl1x9o|title=Police filmed stamping on man's head at airport|last=Gawne|first=Ewan|date=24 July 2024|last2=Lazaro|first2=Rachael|access-date=25 July 2024|work=BBC News}} The two suspects involved who attacked the police and bystanders were charged for assault in December by the CPS. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1991319/nigel-farage-says-brothers-charged

• Law enforcement in the United Kingdom
• List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories

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{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
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{{Greater Manchester Police}}

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Category:Greater Manchester Police

Category:Organizations established in 1974

Category:Police forces of England

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Category:1974 establishments in England