The Salford Brief - May 2024

HUMAN REMAINS INVESTIGATION

I am the district lead for the Complex Safeguarding team, known as ‘Connect’ in Salford.

I have been fortunate enough to have worked as detective inspector from 2019 and detective chief inspector within this team and we should be extremely proud of what the team offer to the district.

Unlike any other complex safeguarding team across the force, we have responsibility for child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation and modern slavery within the district.

The team works closely with some of the most vulnerable children who are victims of exploitation daily, alongside many vulnerable adults who are at risk of exploitation, in particular ‘cuckooing’ which has been an issue for the district historically.

In order to tackle this the team have developed great working relationships with teams within the police, such as neighbourhoods, as well as outside children’s agencies (services and health).

On Thursday 18 April, as part of our forcewide child protection Operation Avro, Connect worked closely with those partners to engage with schoolchildren across the district, teaching them to recognise the signs of exploitation and signposting those at risk to agencies which can assist in safeguarding them. This included educational inputs for teachers and school staff, to heighten their understanding and awareness of exploitation.

Salford Connect is always looking for innovative ways to tackle sexual exploitation such as by arranging ‘fast meets’ with NW ROCU to identify and arrest suspects who were arranging to meet a child decoy in order to engage in sexual activity.

There have been some fantastic examples of working with the neighbourhood teams which have identified, disrupted and tackled criminal exploitation of children, such as Operation Access, relating to young persons involved in the supply of drugs and additional work has taken place to safeguard vulnerable adults who are currently being exploited or at risk of exploitation.

Salford Connect team are based on the first floor at Swinton Police Station, so please make contact with them if you need any advice or support around any concerns for exploitation.

Thank you

Chief Inspector Yanica Weir

Local patrols reassure community in Salford

Police cordons have remained in place across various sites in Salford and Bury as local patrols continue for community reassurance.

It comes as more suspected human remains have been discovered on the morning of Monday 29 April 2024 in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.

Earlier in April, human remains were also found at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood.

This significant breakthrough comes as a result of in-depth enquiries over the past few weeks.

Two men from Eccles have since been charged and remanded in custody following a brief appearance at Manchester Crown Court. They will next appear in court on 18 July 2024 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

A provisional trial date of 3 March 2025 was fixed by Judge Nicholas Dean KC, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester.

Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been

very much a large collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.”

Despite the significant progress made, the work of the officers is far from over amid this complex investigation as they continue their searches and gain a fuller picture of the circumstances which led to the victim’s death.

ACC Jackson added: “It’s took an immense amount of first-class detective work to progress the investigation so quickly and to secure these charges. Suffice to say our work is far from complete, but I thank every single one of you who has worked tirelessly on this case so far.

“That includes the dozens of you who have given up rest days or worked overtime in guarding scenes, searching massive open spaces, and conducting top-quality forensic and digital work, while ensuring that our daily business isn’t compromised.

“This case has demonstrated the best of GMP. Your diligence, professionalism and compassion have been a true credit to the force and the wider public.”

Well-deserved recognition for Operation Logan dogs and their two handlers

In May 2022, following an intense fire at Bismark House Mill in Oldham which took four days to extinguish fully, demolition workers found human remains at the site.

A thorough investigation by GMP’s Disaster Victim Identification team found that the remains were of four Vietnamese men, Cuong Van Chu, Uoc Van Nguyen, Duong Van Nguyen and Nam Thanh Le, who had been reported missing around the time of the fire. They were victims of modern slavery, exploited and locked in the building by organised criminals; among the most vulnerable in our society.

In March, officers and staff involved in Operation Logan –the retrieval and repatriation of the four men’s remains to their families in Vietnam – were recognised in an awards ceremony at Nexus House. A month later, GMP’s Awards team celebrated the hard work of the operation’s other unsung heroes: victim recovery dogs Cleo (left) and Archie (right, retired) and their handlers, PC Gareth Greaves and Mark Richardson (retired). Gareth, Mark, Archie and Cleo convened at GMP’s Hough End facility to receive their well-deserved commendation certificates – and, for Archie and Cleo, a ceremonial squeaky ball.

Operation Logan was a particularly complex case for all involved, and the dogs were no exception. The fire had been extensive, taking four days to extinguish, and officers sifted through a total 4,500 tonnes of rubble to find the victims’ remains. The team was working through the heatwave of July 2022, with average temperatures of 200C and highs of 360C

Celsius. The debris included the remains of a tile shop which had burned down in the fire, so the teams had to contend with shards of shattered tiles and the residual fumes from burned ceramic.

“We were there for 12 to 14 hours a day, at the height of summer – every day Cleo was coming home with scratches and injuries to her paws, and then the next day she would go straight back out and do it again,” Gareth said. “Dogs don’t always know when it’s best for them to stop working for the day, so she would have kept going for even longer if I’d let her.”

In recent weeks five-year-old Cleo has distinguished herself again, covering around 42 miles of ground in Salford as part of the ongoing investigation into body parts found around the area. Gareth described her as “very loving – but hard as nails. She is a working dog.”

Archie is 11 and has now retired from the force along with Mark, his handler. “He seems like a real grump, but he is the softest, loveliest dog. My kids love him,” Mark said. “He’s independent, hard-working and eager to please – he is very easy to love and very rewarding to work with.”

The crucial, often harrowing work of the victim recovery team is commonly overlooked or misunderstood. “The job does get to you sometimes,” Mark said.

Gareth added: “People don’t always realise what we do or what it means, so we’re lucky to have a close-knit team who support each other. At the heart of it, our job is bringing the lost home.”

Child protection Op Avro goes forcewide

Each month, GMP’s Operation Avro deploys extra resources in a single district in a proactive drive to target the crimes that matter the most to our communities.

In April, for the first time, Op Avro launched across the force in a bid to tackle criminal and sexual exploitation and safeguard young people.

Using high visibility, resource-intensive and proactive policing, we launched an action-packed day of activity across Greater Manchester, focusing on child protection and safeguarding.

The day started at 5am, with warrants across the force targeting people suspected of sexually or criminally exploiting young people. In total, 33 individuals were arrested for a variety of offences including serious sexual offences and rape, indecent images offences, and possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs.

The team was joined by PD Ted, Cheshire Constabulary’s ‘digital dog detective’, whose specialist skills help us identify hidden digital devices which may be used to hold illegal images. With devices becoming smaller, and criminals becoming more adept at concealing them, these skills are an excellent asset to our investigations.

Proactive operations in Bury and Rochdale saw officers and staff from our dedicated complex safeguarding teams partner with local authority Trading Standards officers to visit several shops suspected of selling vapes to underage children – this is a priority as it can often lead to children being coerced into criminal activity or sexual exploitation.

In total, £20,000 worth of amount of illicit or non-compliant vapes were seized, along with illegal sweets and imitation firearms.

Teams across the force delivered training sessions to hoteliers, businesses and taxi licensees to make sure they were equipped with the tools and confidence to challenge inappropriate

behaviour and feel confident knowing what to look out for when they come into contact with young people.

Our specialist behavioural detection teams were deployed to hotspots across the force, with a focus on reducing youth violence. To compliment this, our Complex Safeguarding Teams delivered several workshops in local primary and secondary schools, discussing important topics such as healthy relationships, staying safe online, and how criminal gangs look to exploit young people.

Education and engagement are key to preventing and addressing exploitation before it takes hold, and we intend to continue this critical work in our communities, talking to as many people as we can who may be the first

point of contact for young people at risk of exploitation. If we can increase awareness of the signs that a child may be at risk, ensure we’re asking young people the right questions in the first place and provide a safe space for them to talk, we have a better chance at protecting them from harm.

The training school at Sedgley Park held two events for officers and staff, providing inputs on recognising the signs of child abuse, listening to children and understanding the impact of adverse childhood experiences.

With more resources and increased investment into tackling exploitation and protecting children from harm, we are working around the clock to face these issues head on. From improving

training for frontline officers, ensuring they stay professionally curious to maximise chances of early intervention, to specialist detectives targeting online predators, we are taking advantage of the breadth of experience and resources we have across the force, with one common goal of safeguarding young people from harm.

DCI Suzanne Keenaghan, force coordinator for child protection, said: “We want to empower our communities to be alive to the signs of exploitation, provide avenues for them to report concerns to us and our partners, and most importantly, instil public confidence to know that we will act upon any intelligence that they give us.

“Sadly, people will always seek to exploit children and vulnerable people, but I am confident that we have rigorous safeguarding mechanisms in place across

Greater Manchester, and relentless teams of detectives and frontline officers who are pursuing offenders.

“At the heart of the work we do is building trusted relationships with the children and young people who are at risk. The activity today gave us the chance to speak to thousands of people in our communities, take criminals off the streets, and build on our intelligence picture about children who are facing or experiencing exploitation. With help from our partners and the public, we have seen significant results today and we will continue to build on this as not to become complacent.”

Signs a child may be at risk

• While this is not an exhaustive list, some signs of exploitation include:

• Changes in behaviour or appearance

• Not coming home when they say they will, or going missing

• Becoming uncharacteristically secretive or reluctant to talk about friends or relationships

• Struggling to engage in school

• Overly protective of their messages or social media accounts

• Having more than one phone

• Accompanied by individuals older than them

• Concerns surrounding the use of alcohol or drugs

• Sudden changes or fear of people or friends

• Unexplained gifts or money

• Uncharacteristic or age-inappropriate sexual discussions or language

• Evidence of sexual images being shared (by themselves or by others)

Right Care, Right Person: experts who can give

Right Care, Right Person (RCRP), a national programme which aims to ensure that individuals in need receive the right care from the right agency, will launch at GMP on 17 June.

In preparation for the launch, it is mandatory that all GMP officers and staff complete the short RCRP training course available on College Learn at https://www.learn.college.pnn. police.uk/CL/Content/Summary/47978. If you have any queries, please email the project team at RCRP@gmp.police.uk.

Please be aware that Right Care, Right Person has not yet gone live and no changes currently need to be made to the way we work.

Once RCRP has launched, staff in the FCCO will benefit from the support of expert floorwalkers, who will provide guidance and insight where needed into all aspects of the policy. Ahead of the rollout, you can learn some more about them below:

Abigail Smith (Abi)

RCRP will be a big step in the right direction for both the force and the public. They are getting the right help sooner; there will be more officers free to deal with crime, and fewer calls coming into the FCCO.

I aim to support my colleagues the best way I can with the understanding I have around RCRP. I know a lot of people will be worried about this coming in and thinking about repercussions and worst case scenarios; I will reassure them that they are supported by the policy.

Chloe Goulden

To me, RCRP means that GMP can now focus more closely on fighting crime and saving lives of people in immediate danger.

RCRP is very important for our force as it helps us use our resources and officers for their intended purpose. My colleagues can expect my full support while rolling out RCRP – I will be on hand to help explain any unclear incidents which arise and offer my advice on how to best serve the public through RCRP.

Once RCRP is fully rolled out and all staff have settled in, it will be a massive benefit to GMP forcewide.

Matthew Jones

RCRP means that the police can provide the right support to the public and help to fight crime, while also making sure the concerned party gets the correct support. It is a positive change to the force and

can be daunting, but the policies in place are aligned to go smoothly.

I will always be on hand to make sure my colleagues have full support whenever it is needed, answer questions without judgement and help to guide them through the correct avenues.

Thomas Caldecott

RCRP means that the people in our communities receive the correct care from the correct agency – some of the training we’ve received has clearly shown that police attendance isn’t always the best way to help people, and can sometimes even make things worse. It will also help GMP be able to respond to actual policing needs.

I will be on hand to offer support with any aspect of RCRP whenever it is needed.

Nathan Cortes

RCRP not only makes our jobs more effective, it’s also there to help the people we serve by getting them the right help as soon as possible, rather than passing them through multiple agencies, which delays the help they need. For GMP it’s important because we can use our resources to spend more time helping those who truly need us.

During any massive culture change, even small details can seem like a big challenge. This is what the floorwalkers have been trained for: to assist with questions and offer clarity during this changeover period. We will be walking around the room looking to help anyone who wants to clarify anything or are

unsure if they are making the right decision.

If I could say one thing to those who will be working with me, it is that there is no such thing as a bad question.

Almas Barker

RCRP will help police officers to get back to policing and help victims instead of sitting in a hospital for hours, freeing up more police to work on the beat, protect the public and prevent crime.

I will give my colleagues 100% as a floorwalker and support them in their decision-making. My advice to my colleagues would be to read more about the changes coming on the intranet RCRP hub, and check Sherlock – but do not hesitate to ask supervisors and floorwalkers. Attend the training sessions if you can, as they are very interesting and the trainers are always happy to hear your views.

Sam Grice

RCRP will bring a positive change to GMP by enabling officers to focus on tackling crime and provide a better service for victims.

It will enable people who are suffering from mental health, social and care needs to access services which are trained to support them faster.

I believe my skills as a trainer and mentor will assist my colleagues in the room.

Hayden Leigh

RCRP to me means one thing: a safer environment for the people of Greater

Person: meet the give the right advice

Manchester, enabling them to receive the care they need firsthand from the right agency. It also means police officers will be able to carry out their duties correctly and in a timelier manner for those who need the police for policing purposes, giving us and members of public better access to the resources we need.

As a floorwalker, call handlers can expect my full support, and more importantly a helping hand to reassure they are doing the right thing in the correct manner.

We are a team, and we have an at times challenging job with a duty of care to the members of public who need our help. I will help in any way possible to make sure I and my colleagues are equipped to give that care to the public.

Imogen Stone

RCRP means the public get the right support where they need it without feeling criminalised.

The support I can offer to colleagues while I’m on the floor in the FCCO will include answering questions if something feels confusing: an issue we may have

put on a Grade 1 in the past could no longer be something that the police force deal with; some call handlers may disagree with this, but I am there to explain why this is the case and what they need to do to get the caller the correct care and assistance in that moment of need.

I have been trained in what we will keep doing and what we will no longer deal with, so I will use this training to help others across the floor.

Please don’t feel afraid to ask any questions: this is a change affecting the whole of GMP, and we floorwalkers are here to support and help on the jobs you may have questions about.

Natalie Aker

RCRP means there will be more resources available to deal with incidents that are meant for the police.

I will be there to help colleagues with any questions and filling in the forms; I will help them in the best way I can with the knowledge gained from my training.

During the training sessions I have been engaging in conversations and

asking questions that I feel colleagues may ask me when I am floorwalking, so I can give them an informed answer.

Dalien Haughton

Simply put, RCRP involves getting the right care for the right person!

This means we will be providing a better service to members of the public and signposting them towards the appropriate help – this also free up crucial resources to attend the core functions of policing.

During go-live period I will be one of the floorwalkers in the FCCO; I am here to help with any questions that you may have. I cannot promise I know all the answers, but I will endeavour to work with call handlers during this challenging period and help to get clarity on anything you may be unsure of.

Row 1: Abigail Smith, Matthew Jones, Tom Caldecot, Hayden Leigh, Dalien Haughton,

Row 2: Samantha Grice, Chloe Goulden, Craig Gandy, Natalie Alker, Natalie Alker, Natalie Alker, Nathan Cortes.

The Forcer Protocol initiative goes national in May

GMP’s groundbreaking veterans’ initiative is set to become a national protocol, with its next iteration rolling out in Cumbria in early May.

The Forcer Protocol is a practice used by the police to ensure that key information is available when searching for service veterans who are lost or have gone missing. GMP was the first police force in the UK to adopt the protocol, which was initially implemented as a sixmonth pilot.

The protocol is named after Alan Forcer, a former soldier who took his own life after being reported missing in 2020. Alan suffered with complex PTSD, extreme anxiety, physical pain, and debilitating depression after serving in Northern Ireland and Kosovo as a teenager. Some months before his death, he was informed that the charity which had been providing him with mental health assistance would no longer be able to do so due to funding issues.

The Forcer Protocol follows this approach:

How much do you know about TRiM at GMP?

Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) is a confidential, peer-delivered risk assessment and ongoing support system, provided by GMP to help in the management and support of staff and officers after an on-duty traumatic event. While TRiM is not a clinical intervention, counselling, or formal psychological treatment, it does allows qualified peers to conduct structured risk assessments and identify likely reactions to potentially traumatic events. Its aim is to identify those people that need early support and assist them in receiving it.

How does it work?

When notified of an incident via the TRiM email, a TRiM manager starts the process.

1. When a person is reported missing to the FCCO, the call handler will then ask whether the missing person is a veteran in every case as part of the initial assessment.

2. Next, the log is switched to GMP’s Force Operations Centre, where the staff will check Safe and Found Online information aggregation platform for crucial information about the veteran.

3. The district will then identify the risk, investigate, and locate the missing person safe and well.

4. Finally, a referral is then completed on a Single Veteran’s Pathway to ensure that the veteran gets the correct support they need.

Due to the success the Forcer Protocol has achieved with GMP, it is now being rolled out at Cumbria Constabulary as it becomes a national protocol.

Ch Insp Mark Mangnall, who has played a huge part in the design and implementation of the protocol, said:

For larger incidents, a planning meeting will be arranged within the first 24 to 48 hours after an event. The planning meeting is held to identify those involved, understand the incident and its characteristics, and agree a tailored response. Some people who have been involved with the incident may be invited to take part in a risk assessment.

Larger groups may be asked to attend a TRiM incident briefing (TIB), where they will be provided with information on the incident and advice on how to manage their own emotional responses. TRiM ensures that there is a coherent, considered approach to the organisational response. The TRiM assessment is a chance to have a structured, non-judgmental, relaxed and confidential chat with a peer, about the incident you have been involved in.

What not to do

Staff and officers should not be referred to TRiM immediately after an incident, as people deal with traumatic events in different ways. Normal supervisory welfare should be used and if an individual requests TRiM, then a

“Countless hours of hard work have taken place in the design phase and implementation of the Forcer Protocol.

“Since it went live in November 2023, we have identified and located 68 vulnerable missing veterans. It fills me with pride that its success has gained recognition from the NPCC and nationally by other police forces. Cumbria Constabulary is the first force after the GMP pilot to adopt this protocol within their force area, paving the way that I am confident many will follow in the near future.”

referral should be made to trim@gmp. police.uk.

The TRiM assessment will not take place until at least 72 hours after the event; this gives individuals time to process what has happened.

Speaking to the team

The TRiM team within GMP is currently made up of Force TRiM Coordinator Tracy Harris and Senior Mental Health Specialist Glenys Wright. There are also 58 TRiM practitioners available whenever you need them.

Wellbeing at Greater Manchester Police

Annual Wellbeing on Tour event

This year the team’s Wellbeing on Tour is coming to you earlier in the year than usual, and will be spread across three weeks due to the bank holiday. You can find a list of where we will be and on what dates below; please keep an eye on the intranet over the coming weeks for more details of what the events will entail and who will be in attendance on each day.

• Bury: Friday 17 May

• Rochdale: Monday 20 May

• Oldham: Tuesday 21 May

• Nexus House: Wednesday 22 May

• Stockport: Thursday 23 May

• City of Manchester: Friday 24 May

• Stretford: Tuesday 28 May

• Swinton: Wednesday 29 May

• Wigan: Thursday 30 May

• Bolton: Friday 31 May

Oscar Kilo: Once upon a time

Over the last few months, in accordance with its commitments under the Police Covenant, Oscar Kilo (OK) has been developing a programme of support for police families.

Following in-depth research to understand some of the challenges policing families face, OK launched its OK family life programme in November, which brings together resources and support for families and friends of police officers – from nutrition guidance for the

whole family, to advice and workarounds for living with someone working shifts, to advice on mental health and identifying the signs of work stress and trauma in a loved one.

One key issue that the research has highlighted is that a simple acknowledgement of how tough it can be on all members of the family, including children, really helps. It can mean people feel less alone and more seen.

This is why Oscar Kilo has introduced its ‘Once upon a time’ campaign, which aims to help policing families explain to children why their loved ones might sometimes have to miss out on mealtimes, bedtimes or family celebrations.

As we all know, it’s not always possible for people working in policing to be around for a bedtime story; and it’s important that children understand why this might happen.

That’s why, Oscar Kilo launched its new campaign, centred around Red Robber Raid: a children’s book written and illustrated by the wellbeing team at Norfolk and Suffolk Constabulary, which gives families a chance to share a special bedtime story and explore together why a parent or carer might miss out on mealtimes, bedtimes, or other family time.

This campaign follows on from Oscar Kilo’s initial launch of its new online family hub in November and its ‘Thank you’ campaign at Christmas, which offered police forces, officers, and staff

the chance to say thank you to their families and friends and recognise the support they give every day to their loved ones in policing.

Oscar Kilo: new online hub for retirees and leavers

Oscar Kilo is delighted to launch its new leavers’ hub, offering resources to support both police staff and officers as they retire or leave policing.

The online hub offers advice and support through every stage of a leaver’s journey, from initial thinking about next steps, to creating a CV, networking, interviews, and wellbeing.

Providing support to those who are leaving or who have left policing is a key pillar of the Police Covenant, which recognises the unique contribution and sacrifices that both police officers and police staff make as a result of their service.

To create the online hub, Oscar Kilo worked with chartered psychologist Dr Ceri Jones and former chief superintendent Stuart Noble. Between them, the two have more than 20 years of experience helping those moving on from policing and other public sector organisations.

The leavers hub builds on our work to help police forces provide world-class wellbeing support for everyone who works for them.

You can view the Oscar Kilo leavers’ hub at https://www.oscarkilo.org.uk/ leaving-the-police.

Q&A: PC Andrew Sharkey, FCCO

What is your role in the FCCO?

I am a constable in the Force Operations centre.

What was your experience in the force before joining FCCO?

Prior to joining the Force Operations Centre, I worked on the Bolton district. My previous roles were in response; the public service team (appointment-based resolutions); Bolton task force (plain-clothes proactive work); integrated neighbourhood policing team; Bolton town centre neighbourhood; and Great Lever neighbourhood.

What attracted you to join the FCCO?

I was looking for a new challenge, to learn new skills, and develop myself further. I spoke to a friend and colleague who had just joined the branch, from whom I learned that it was a new team, established following the Kerslake inquiry after the Manchester Arena bombing. It aims to support and assist the force duty officer (FDO) in dealing with a variety of incidents, up to and including Operation Plato (The national response to a marauding terrorist attack).

What are your responsibilities?

My principal responsibilities include assisting with GMP’s response to major, critical and significant incidents by cascading information to our partner agencies and activating the Force Command Module. As a force public order loggist, I can assist with logging duties either in Silver Control or when deployed to an incident to support a Bronze command team. My day-to-day responsibilities include having oversight of significant incidents within the force, assisting with forcewide resourcing issues, assistance with high-risk missing persons, phone work and AtHoc image distribution. I undertake dynamic tasked research from the FDO and force critical incident manager (FCIM) in relation to fast-time intelligence checks, firearms research packages, Police National Database (PND) and other GMP systems interrogation. I also conduct day-today administrative tasks, such as preparation and presentation of the force daily management meeting (DMM) and force daily summary.

What is an average day like for you?

An average day in the Force Operations Centre revolves around working to support the FDO, FCIMs, senior leaders and district officers in a rapid and effective manner, providing whatever support and assistance we can offer with access to a multitude of systems. In truth there are no average days – the work is interesting and varied.

What is the biggest challenge of working in the FCCO?

Personally, my biggest challenge was developing myself to become comfortable with the numerous systems and IT that we use in the centre. Along with the systems that all officers will be aware of, such as iOPS, PND and other common research tools, there are other systems that we use in relation to major and critical incidents; such as Resilience Direct, which I use to inform and integrate with our partners – potentially up to a cabinet level.

The support and help that I have received within the team to learn and progress with the systems has been constant. I was new to how the FCCO integrates as a team, for example how

incidents come in via call handlers, and the effective distribution of the incident, and how that further links to partner agencies becoming involved, and the assistance they can offer.

What skills or qualities do you need to work in the FCCO?

For me, key qualities are a willingness to learn and to support our colleagues, senior officers and partners. However, anyone from any background, either operational or specialist would quickly fit into one of the five teams within the Force Operations Centre. We all bring diverse skills and experiences, and therefore learn and develop from each other. The transferable skills I have now are far greater than the ones I joined with.

Lastly, why would you recommend the FCCO to officers? It is completely different from anything I have done previously. I assist with incidents that I wouldn’t normally have become involved with. The partnership working required here is invaluable and provides good examples for anyone with promotional aspirations. The number of new systems that I can now access and interrogate to benefit others, has been put to effective use.

I have been fully supported in retaining and developing my previously acquired skills including Level 2 public order, National Public Order Evidence Gatherer, and force loggist. Along the way I was fortunate enough to become one of two GMP National Interoperability Liaison Officers (NILO), a course provided by the Fire Service at their training college, which equipped me with a unique insight to their role and the support they can offer the police.

Lastly, as I personally approach the twilight of my career, it’s fulfilling to be involved with a productive team. I firmly believe that we make a positive difference to force operations on a regular basis.

Day in the life - Swinton Front Desk

I am Lilian Taylor, an enquiry counter officer (ECO) at Swinton front desk. I have worked for GMP for 16 years at Little Hulton, Pendleton and Swinton. Let me introduce you to our dynamic team at the front desk:

Gerry McEvoy – Gerry has been with GMP for 16 years working as an ECO at both Stockport and Swinton.

Eileen Rose – Eileen has worked for GMP for 17 years both as a PCSO and ECO at Oldham and Swinton.

David Hamill – Dave has been with GMP for four years as an ECO at Swinton.

Eamon Toye – Eamon has worked for GMP for just over two years as an ECO at Swinton.

Farhin Patel – Farhin has worked for GMP for just over 17 months as an ECO at Swinton.

We work very well together as a team and are very supportive of one another. Our day starts with checking the bail file and register for people who should have signed bail the previous day. Checking court emails for information on any new bail signers and any breaches which may need completing. Gerry will then usually get the team sorted with a morning coffee. We then deal with members of the public, both face to face and on the telephone. Below is a list of some of the duties we perform daily:

• People signing bail

• People answering bail

• Breaches of bail

• Section 165 seizures

• Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs)

• Removal of prohibition orders

• Advice including civil advice

• Submitting logs/crimes

• Updating crimes and officers

• Assaults

• Domestic incidents

• Harassment and stalking

• Criminal damage

• Missing persons

• Mental health issues

• Custody enquiries

• Football banning orders

• Complaints

• Property searches

• Action fraud

• Intelligence submissions

• Language line for language barriers

As you can see our days are very varied and no two days are ever the same. We deal with members of the public who can be very irate and angry or even violent and abusive, and some who are quite upset; while others can be quite jolly and we can have a little laugh with them. These situations can be very difficult and emotive to deal with, especially if they resonate on a personal level with each of us. We do strive to deliver an exemplary standard of customer service while often being verbally abused. Our role can be both mentally and emotionally draining but also very rewarding. The role is very demanding as we have seen an increase

in the footfall of people who attend the desk. You have probably heard the bell constantly ringing at the front desk, which - I think the ECO’s hear in their sleep. This is surprising as there are now many different ways to also report to the police for example, online. We deal with members of the public from across the force - as we joke, all roads lead to Swinton! We don’t think that until you have worked at the front desk you would appreciate the wide range of daily duties that we cover. We work extremely hard and have a great team who support each other; without this the job would be a lot harder than it already is.

Gerry is known for fixing the printer, selling poppies in November and he is our indispensable brew man.

I am known as the tuck shop lady! Dave the Rave is so laid back, he keeps us all calm.

Eamon is our very helpful young man: nothing is too much trouble for him, he is also our pop man, who by the way doesn’t know who David Bowie is!

Eileen is another one of our calm crew, she keeps us on an even keel.

Farhin is our little pocket rocket, you will hear her giggling in the office. Please feel free to come down and have a brew with us.

If you’ve got any questions you’d like to ask us, we will do our best to answer them. Hope this gives a little insight into our very busy day.

RCRP: e-learning now mandatory for public-facing and training roles

Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) will launch at GMP on Monday 17 June 2024.

To ensure the whole force understands GMP’s new position under RCRP, all officers and staff in publicfacing and training roles are required to complete a 15-minute online training package via College Learn – this mandatory online training needs to be completed by Friday 31 May 2024. The course can be found at https:// www.learn.college.pnn.police.uk/ CL/Content/Summary/47978 or by scanning the QR code below.

Managers and supervisors are expected to provide officers and staff with protected time to complete the training, which should take no longer

than 15 minutes. DRMUs and training co-ordinators are expected to track completion and compliance and issue reminders to staff in their areas who are yet to complete the training ahead of the deadline.

Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) is a new national approach in policing, coordinated through the National Police Chiefs’ Council and supported by the College of Policing. It provides an accountable and consistent decisionmaking model which will be applied at the very first point of contact, when the report is made to the police. The model will ensure individuals receive the right support by the right organisation, at the earliest opportunity through police forces working closely with partners,

including local authorities, NHS trusts and mental health agencies.

More information can be found on the RCRP hub on the force intranet.

IMPORTANT: do not apply any Right Care, Right Person principles to incidents until after the launch date on Monday 17 June 2024.

The RCRP project team can be reached via RCRP@gmp.police.uk.

District response to exploitation

Previously known as the Complex Safeguarding hub, Salford Connect is the district’s response to the exploitation of children and adults. The team works tirelessly across all aspects of safeguarding and exploitation including child sexual exploitation (CSE), child criminal exploitation (CCE), human trafficking, modern slavery and cuckooing.

Below are just some of the activities the team have been working on:

• Working closely with partner agencies, the team have supported a number of people involved in modern day slavery or cuckooing, ensuring they can be moved into safer accommodation; as well as working with modern day slavery charities in the UK and assisting in relocating another individual back to Romania.

• Ongoing disruption work in relation to several investigation and operations including Op Access to tackle exploitation. 15 warrants have executed in the last six months, leading to 19 arrests.

• Operation Access relates to the criminal exploitation of children being used to deal drugs. The Connect team has worked tirelessly alongside neighbourhood and child services to disrupt this and protect the children involved.

Since the arrest of the main suspect who has been interviewed and remanded in prison, there have been positive outcomes for three of the children involved, who are now back in education or actively seeking employment.

• In March 2024, the team visited 17 local hotels in relation to raising concerns and education around child exploitation. Officers have discussed the individual hotels’ policies and provided leaflets for staff.

• The team has visited a number of local schools across the district for discussions with the safeguarding leads. Further visits were also completed by two members of the team to deliver training to Year 7 classes (around 400 children) regarding exploitation, county lines and online risks.

The team has also been working on investigations including:

• Supporting a vulnerable victim who was subject to cuckooing, forced to deal drugs and withdraw quantities of money. The victim has since been moved from the address and safeguarded with thanks to support from officers, housing and social care.

• Another victim was reportedly kept in her address for several

days after being threatened with a knife. She was also forced to withdraw money from her account. She has since been moved from the area and provided with alternative accommodation.

• The Connect team was also involved in the complex safeguarding Operation AVRO in April, with a joint operation between the Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) and North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU). The aim of this was to target online sex offences against children, which resulted in the arrest of one individual who was interviewed, had their phones seized and was bailed with conditions.

Introduction to the MASH team

Across the districts, ensuring that risks to vulnerable children and adults are identified early is key so sharing information is vital.

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) teams have been set up to ensure that officers and staff can work alongside partners including local authority and health agencies.

The Salford MASH team is currently made up of one detective sergeant, one detective constable and four police officers, all with many years’ experiences from other departments prior to child

safeguarding.

Throughout the day the team will triage through care plans that have been submitted by officers either from frontline policing or operations and even occasional ones from specialist operations.

In line with triaging new care plans they also sit in on strategy meetings with other agencies to discuss cases where children are at risk and whether there needs to be further investigation either as a dual agency (both police and children’s services) or single agency through children’s services.

The team at Salford is based at the council building and has direct access to social workers who can assist if you are struggling with getting in touch with schools for a child or need information on parents/grandparents or other children involved in incidents.

A day in the MASH is always different, they link in with the detectives from Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) as well as civilian staff who can access several different resources to assist both social workers and police officers alike.