Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) response times are among the “fastest” in the country, it has been revealed.
Response officers are form a crucial part of the region’s police service, with more 1,600 of them currently working hard, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to serve different areas across Greater Manchester.
These officers respond to everything from burglaries and robberies, to fights, road traffic collisions, and more throughout the region.
They will often be the first to attend any form of incident, and once arriving on these scene, will be quick to assess the immediate threat and harm, initiate an investigation, and provide a reassuring visible police presence for the public.
GMP’s response times have been revealed as among the ‘fastest’ in the country / Credit: GMP
GMP‘s ‘Force Control Room’ receives almost 600,000 999 calls a year, which is around 1,600 a day.
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And now, it has been revealed this week that the force’s response times to those 999 calls, as well as officers’ arrival on the scenes, are among the fastest of any police service in the whole country.
Within the past year alone, GMP was found to have responded to 135,726 Grade 1 incidents – which are calls that need an immediate response – or 370 a day, across the borough, in around 9 minutes 34 seconds on average, which is well inside the expected national average of 15 minutes.
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Those almost 600,000 emergency calls were also found to have been answered, on average, in around four seconds.
#ResponsePolicingWeek | 🚔 Our response officers are the first on the scene and need to be ready for anything.
Today, we would like to shine a light on how their quick actions help save lives.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 25, 2024
GMP’s Assistant Chief Constable, Matt Boyle, called Response Policing the “bedrock” of every police force across the country.
Speaking on GMP’s recent achievements in response times, and praising officers for all their hard work and dedication, ACC Boyle said: “Our response officers and staff play a vital role in keeping the public of Greater Manchester safe every day of the year around the clock.
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“Almost every police officer starts on response, and there is no doubt it’s one of the toughest but also most rewarding roles in policing.
The region’s police service receives almost 600,000 emergency 999 calls a year / Credit: GMP
“When the public call us, often in one of the worst moments of their lives, they rightly expect us to pick up the phone, arrive quickly, act professionally and protect them, and we have made significant improvements in doing this over the last few years, particularly in areas such as burglary, where we now attend every burglary report that comes into us, and domestic abuse, where we are arresting more people than ever.”
ACC Boyle also assured the public that GMP is investing time, money, and recourses into making sure Response Officers receive the most up-to-date training.
“They will usually be the first officers on the scene of an ongoing incident and will often be the first person the public sees, ACC Boyle continued, “So it’s vital they are trained to the highest standards and have the latest kit and equipment.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Significant disruption in Manchester city centre as water pours down Portland Street
Daisy Jackson
A burst water main in Manchester city centre is causing ‘significant disruption’ today, with Piccadilly Gardens and Portland Street both closed.
Water can be seen pouring down Portland Street with a large crack visible in the road’s surface.
As a result of the leak, Bee Network buses are having to be rerouted and a huge number of routes are disrupted.
Piccadilly Gardens – the city’s main hub for bus connections – has been closed until repair work on the burst pipe is complete.
TfGM said: “A water leak on Portland Street is causing significant disruption in the city centre.
“Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens will be closed until further notice while work takes to repair the pipe.
“This is affecting bus services using Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens.”
Bus routes affected are: 15, 18, 30, 33, 38, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 42C, 43, 50, 85, 85A, 86, 101, 103, 111, 142, 143, 191, 197, 250, 255, 256, 263, Free bus 1 and Free bus 2.
The burst water main on Portland StreetBoth Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens are closed
A United Utilities spokesperson said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by a burst water main on Portland Street.
“Customer water supplies have not been affected, and our teams are on site working to isolate the damaged main and complete repairs as quickly as possible.
“We are working closely with the police, TfGM and the council to manage disruption and reopen the road as soon as possible.”
Alison Chew, TfGM’s Network Director for Bus, said: “Due to a burst water main on Portland Street, buses in Manchester city centre are currently being diverted.
“Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens bus station will be closed until further notice while utility companies carry out emergency repairs. We’ve also got our teams across the city centre to support passengers to make their journeys.
“Anyone planning to travel in or out of the city centre is advised to check the TfGM website or Bee Network app for the latest updates, including a list of affected services.”
Manchester GPs can now ‘prescribe’ cost of living support to residents
Emily Sergeant
GPs are now able to offer prescription-style support with the cost of living to residents in Manchester.
It’s no secret that the cost of living crisis has, unfortunately, been continuing to make itself known across the country for the past couple of years, and despite recent Government intervention in the form of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s series of ‘everyday fixes’, it sadly doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
But now it’s been revealed that Greater Manchester residents can be ‘prescribed’ cost of living support when they visit their local GP.
For patients who patients need help with bills, debts, benefits, or affording food, GPs can now provide them with details of Manchester’s free cost of living advice line.
That means that, for anyone whose mental or physical health is being affected by financial worries, GPs can simply tear a page that contains all the details they need for the advice line from a block that looks like a prescription pad, and hand it to the patient.
Alternatively, the GP can also ‘refer’ the patient straight into the service online in a similar way to making a referral to a specialist or consultant.
Manchester GPs can now ‘prescribe’ cost of living support to residents / Credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya | Mylo Kaye (via Unsplash)
Once a resident makes contact with the free cost of living advice line – which started back in October 2022, and has helped thousands of people since – they can receive a wide range of advice on issues like energy costs and rent, to help with getting online, and so much more.
The Council also says that recent figures show there is an increasing number of calls or requests around help with rent or benefits and support with food or foodbanks, which is why it has chosen to introduce this ‘innovate’ move.
“We don’t want anyone to feel like they are becoming lost under competing financial pressures, worries about putting food on the table, or keeping a roof over their heads,” commented Cllr Tracey Rawlins, who is the Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council.
“We really want to help before worries become a problem,” she added. “The team on the advice line keep all information in confidence and they want to help.”
Emily Sergeant -
26th June 2024 
