A new independent scrutiny panel has been launched to monitor
custody and arrests by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), following
an inquiry commissioned by Mayor Andy .
This forms part of a raft of new measures, introduced in response
to recommendations made by Dame in her report on the treatment
of people arrested and taken into custody in Greater Manchester.
The new panel is tasked with what is known as ‘dip-sampling'
arrests. It will examine a random selection of arrests at the
lower end of criminality, looking at the reasons for arrest,
strip search records and the quality and accuracy of custody
records.
, Deputy Mayor for Safer and
Stronger Communities, said:
“Arrests and detention that are appropriate and maintain dignity
are fundamental to the public's trust and confidence in policing.
That is why we are launching this new panel today.
“The panel is drawn from all walks of life, united by a shared
sense of responsibility and commitment to this duty.
“It will play a vital role in continuing to scrutinise this work
at GMP over the coming years. This will ensure standards
are maintained in the longer term and inform the learning and
culture change throughout the force so the public can trust that
improvements are embedded and sustained.”
The panel is made up of people with professional or lived
experience of the police and justice system, including people who
have been arrested, victims' groups and community organisations.
They include a district prosecutor, an ex-Magistrate, an
Independent Custody Visitor, the Appropriate Adult Service,
members of the Womens' Support Alliance, a member of our GM Race
Equality Panel and wider voluntary sector organisations.
At its launch, Dame will address the panel to
outline her findings from the inquiry and reiterate the
importance of the work the panel has been established to do.
Dame , author of the Baird Review,
said:
“This is a landmark moment for policing. I am impressed that the
Deputy Mayor has implemented my recommendation for an independent
scrutiny panel so speedily and so thoroughly.
“This is the first time that an independent panel will have
wide-ranging powers to scrutinise how the police are conducting
arrests, custody, strip search, domestic abuse and all of the
other issues I raised in my report.
“None of the panel have any connection with the force; they will
be able to examine police activity completely independently and
throw a searchlight on their actions.
“Every place should benefit from the same level of scrutiny and I
hope that this panel will serve as a blueprint for the whole
country in the future.”
In 2023 the Mayor and Deputy Mayor commissioned the former Victims'
Commissioner for England and Wales to carry out an independent
review into the experiences of people arrested and taken into
custody across Greater Manchester, with a focus on women and
girls.
It followed reports in the media, including from Sky News, of
accounts from three women in Greater Manchester. The report took
evidence from 14 complainants, including three men, who spoke
about their experiences between 2021 and 2023.
A recent assessment from the Deputy Mayor on progress since the
publication of Dame Vera's inquiry in July 2024, found that 24 of
the 26 recommendations made to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) –
including the end of ‘welfare' strip searches – have been
implemented, and seven of the eight recommendations put to the
Greater Manchester Combined Authority have been delivered.
Detective Chief Superintendent Ryan Davies, GMP's head of
Custody and Criminal Justice, said:
“Today's launch is another significant step in helping to improve
the service that we provide to people in custody across Greater
Manchester, as we continue to strive to be a national exemplar in
this space.
“It reinforces our commitment to being held to account for our
use of arrests and our performance in custody, which is important
in making sure people – particularly women and girls – can have
confidence as to how their police force treats people in custody.
“By its nature, custody has – and always will be – a challenging
environment for our officers and staff who do a tough job, with
around 60,000 suspects being taken to our cells every year in GM.
“However, basic provisions and processes must always be met, and
while we are confident that the new Panel will recognise our
progress, we stand ready to listen to their feedback around any
other aspects they identify where we may need to continue our
improvement journey.”
The panel will meet from January 2025 to begin its reviews and
dip sampling. Observations and recommendations made by the Panel
will be reported to the Deputy Mayor and GMP Chief Constable.
