Greater Manchester Mayor must continue to work with Greater Manchester Police to fund and fulfil hundreds of vacancies

10 May 2021

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham must continue to work with Greater Manchester Police to fund and fulfil hundreds of vacancies at the force, GMP Police Federation has said. 

Mr Burnham secured another term as Mayor after receiving 63% of the votes cast in the recent mayoral elections.

Now the elections are over, GMP Police Federation Chairman Stu Berry wants Mr Burnham to assist to resolve the 200 empty Detective posts the force is having to operate with and invest in a Detective Academy to secure the long term prospects of GMP and the service we provide  - the current situation is ‘unsustainable’ according to Stu.

Stu hopes to meet Mr Burnham and the new Chief Constable to discuss this and other issues once the dust has settled on the mayoral elections.

 “At our first meeting, we will discuss the investment in the workforce,” Stu said.

“We need to see a considerable investment in the way that we recruit and especially retain our experienced police officers. We need to look at why officers are leaving the force.

“But most importantly, a significant increase in investment into the detective area of business. The 200 or so vacancies that we’re currently carrying in GMP can’t continue.” 

The Federation is also calling for the establishment of an academy at the force to recruit investigators. 

Stu added: “We’re trying to bring in investment to start up an academy at Sedgley Park where people are brought in and are taken through the step change to becoming a detective and how to investigate, the courses it entails, and a gentle step to approach into that world so we can support them through the process which will keep people there and attract more people. That’s what we want, that investment from the Mayor.”

Stu added: “It’s important that we have a strong, honest and open relationship with the Mayor’s office, but it’s also very important that that does not undermine the office of the Chief Constable. There needs to be a clearly defined leader and I hope that is the relationship going forward.”