Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to Andy Burnham asking the Mayor of Greater Manchester to immediately publish a long-awaited report into the management and performance of Greater Manchester Police.
Mayor Burnham delayed publishing the report before his mayoral re-election, claiming that it would be inappropriate to do so before the new Police chief was in post. Chief Constable Stephen Watson QPM has now been sworn in, and councillor Sykes wants the Mayor to keep his promise.
“Now the new Chief Constable is in post, there really is no longer an excuse to delay the publication of this report,” said councillor Sykes. “From what I have heard the report is damning, with serious criticisms about the culture, management and performance of Greater Manchester Police that go to the very top. Now it is ready, it is only right that the public should be able to see it as they paid for it.”
Councillor Sykes added: “This is not the first time Greater Manchester Police has come in for criticism. Last year, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary was also condemnatory in its findings, particularly about the failure to record over 80,000 reported crimes. We have also seen the fiasco over the new Police computer system, iOPs.”
“The new Chief Constable and Mayor Burnham, as Police and Crime Commissioner, must now come up with a credible plan of action to bring about radical improvements at Greater Manchester Police and restore public confidence in their police service.”