Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has been recognised for a second time by inspectors - securing the force's position as the most improved in the country.

GMP’s effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy was reviewed by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) earlier this year in a report published today, Friday.

The report states that the force has "continued to improve the policing service it provides to the communities of Greater Manchester".

It grades the force as good in three areas, adequate in five, and requires Improvement in one.

The report shows the progress made since the 2020 inspection, which resulted in the delivery of an "accelerated cause for concern", which put GMP into "special measures" for just under two years until October last year. 

It also recognises that the times taken to answer 999 and 101 calls have reduced by 95.1 per cent and 83.4 per cent respectively since July 2021.

The force carries out effective and timely investigations, with arrests up by 82.9 per cent in the last 12 months, compared to the year to October 2021, and charges and summons up by 39.2 per cent in the same period.

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It also highlights areas for improvement – including the managing of offenders and suspects.

The report acknowledges that the public protection department was already making progress at the time of the inspection in July with the sex offender management unit having decreased overdue visits and overdue specialist risk assessments by 81 per cent and 83 per cent since the beginning of the year.

In the last three months, the figures have continued to decrease by 14% and 62% respectively.

GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson QPM said: “Greater Manchester Police is no longer an underperforming force.

"It is a force to be reckoned with – one with good leadership and management, and one which is good at preventing and deterring crime; and disrupting serious and organised crime.

"Whilst we are delighted by the progress, it also paves the way for our next steps, which we have already begun to take.

"We do not believe that ‘adequate’ or ‘good’ are enough. We want to be ‘outstanding’ - the best police force in the country. 

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, added: “I am hugely encouraged with today’s His Majesty’s Inspectorate report which shows just how much of a turnaround GMP has made since it went into special measures in 2020 and since the 2021 inspection.

“When I appointed Stephen Watson as Chief Constable two years ago, I was very clear that I wanted GMP to focus on the people’s priorities of neighbourhood crime and rebuilding their relationships with local communities.