S A LFORD C I V I C C E N T R E • C HORL E Y RO A D • S W IN T ON M 2 7 5 D A T: 0 1 6 1 7 9 3 3 1 2 7 • w w w . g m p a . g o v. u k • i n f o @ g m p a . g o v. u k
Engagement
Autumn 2011
Public quiz police bosses Hundreds of people have taken the opportunity to grill those in charge of policing in Greater Manchester. Throughout the summer, GMPA, in partnership with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), hosted twelve Policing Today, Policing Tomorrow events across the region to give the public the chance to have their say and discuss the issues that matter to them.
Chairman of GMPA, Cllr Paul Murphy, and Chief Constable Peter Fahy visited each borough to talk to the public, at meetings attended by local residents, local councillors, businesses and community groups, about the challenges facing the police in the future and answered many questions from the floor. Much of the questioning was about the cuts and how police are going to continue to reduce crime with fewer staff and assurances have been given that GMP is committed to making sure officers are deployed on the frontline. There has also been huge support for the work PCSOs do in the community and reassurances have been given that their roles will be secure until at least March 2013. You can replay the questions and answers from each meeting online at www.gmpa.gov.uk/ptptquestionsanswers
GMPA Chair, Cllr Paul Murphy answers the public’s questions in Tameside
Many residents also raised concerns about the loss of the GMP’s Divisional Home Watch Coordinators. In response, residents have been assured that support for Home Watch schemes will continue as these schemes are viewed as a key part of neighbourhood policing. There are proposals to create administration assistant posts for every neighbourhood policing team. Not only will this help maintain contact with Home Watch members, but they will also carry out other administration tasks so that officers and PCSOs can spend less time at their desks and more time out on patrol.
Cllr Paul Murphy said: “We’ve had a very positive response to these meetings and have obtained a great deal of useful information about people’s views on what matters most to them about policing. “On behalf of the police authority I would like to thank everyone who attended the meetings and for the contributions and ideas provided. Please be assured that we will continue to listen to your views to ensure that we provide a quality, effective police service that meets the needs of all our communities.” If you didn’t get a chance to come along to a Policing Today, Policing Tomorrow meeting, there are plenty of other ways to have your say. Visit www.gmpa.gov.uk/haveyoursay to find out how to get involved.