GMP 'double the number of monthly arrests' after special measures

Greater Manchester Police was placed under special measures by the government back in December 2020, after failing to record 80,000 crimes in the year to June 2020.

However, after a huge overhaul in senior leadership and strategy, the Force was taken out of special measures almost two years later, in October 2022.

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Emily Higham was appointed as the Chief Superintendent of Wigan and Leigh in September 2021 (Image: GMP)

Double the number of monthly arrests

Chief Superintendent of Wigan and Leigh, Emily Higham, stressed how the Force is making improvements "month on month" across the borough, with double the number of monthly arrests being made compared to the early spell in special measures.

With 54 extra officers being appointed across the borough and a re-emphasis on neighbourhood policing, the Chief Spt said that this has allowed the Force to detect crimes more efficiently, respond to jobs more quickly, and catch more offenders.

Crimes have also decreased by 25% in anti-social behaviour hotspots, the Chief Spt explained, while 8,000 open cases had been cut to around 4,000 when the Force came out of special measures in October.

The Chief Spt said she is proud of the improvements made across the Force (Image: GMP)

Police chief proud of improvements

Chief Spt Higham said: "I was devastated when we were placed in special measures but I'm really proud of how quickly we managed to come out of this and the improvements we have made in Wigan and Leigh.

"We're detecting more crimes, getting to jobs more quickly, and arresting more people."

Part of GMP's Tactical Aid Unit was transferred to Leigh in February (Image: GMP)

Another reason that the force has been able to respond to more incidents, the Chief Spt explained, is due to part of GMP's Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) being transferred to Leigh Police Station back in February.

While on alert for high-profile disruption and serious organised crime, the police chief explained that the specialist officers are "fully utilised" in supporting the local Force by patrolling crime hotspots and providing extra resources to general police work.

The re-emphasis on neighbourhood policing and being more visible in communities, which was one of the Chief Superintendent's main aims on her appointment, is also said to be paying dividends following the improvements made across the Force.

Police have responded to more crimes across the borough, officers say (Image: Leigh Journal)

Public 'starting to trust us again

The Chief Spt added: "I think that the public is starting to trust us again after our neighbourhood police approach and the improvements in our arrests.

"Policing, for me, should always be very visible and should work alongside communities so we can gain their trust and use their intelligence.

"Don't get me wrong, we will flex our muscles and arrest somebody if we need to, and by using local intelligence, we will do everything we can to target the people that are causing crime and misery in our communities."