Greater Manchester Police are to be placed into special measures following a report in which it was revealed the force had failed to record 80,000 crimes in 12 months.
Last week Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) criticised GMP for the reported failures and expressed a “serious cause for concern.”
Inspectors said: “The level of scrutiny on Greater Manchester Police has been raised and the force has been placed in the Engage stage of the HMICFRS monitoring process.
“In the Engage stage, a force is required to develop an improvement plan to address the specific causes of concern that have led to it being placed in the advanced phase of the monitoring process.
“The process is intended to provide support to the force from external organisations including the Home Office, College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs Council to assist in achieving the required improvements.”
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?️ "We want to ensure that there is a safety net service for any victim who does not feel that they have received the right treatment."
Inspectors estimated that the force recorded 77.7% of reported crimes, a drop of 11.3% from 2018.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham, the report’s author, said HMICFRS had been urging Greater Manchester Police to improve in this area since 2016.
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The report also found that the force wrongly and prematurely closed some investigations, including those where the victim was vulnerable.
GMP
Following recent criticism, Andy Burnham, and Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, Bev Hughes, announced a series of actions – including a hotline for anyone who feels the crime they are reporting has not been recorded.
Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment.
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Consultation begins for plans to regenerate Strangeways neighbourhood and beyond
Danny Jones
The consultation for the potential plans to regenerate districts around Greater Manchester’s Strangeways prison has officially begun.
Known these days as simply HMP Manchester, the areas surrounding what was once known as ‘the UK’s most dangerous prison’ are the latest to have been eyed up for some serious TLC, with both Manchester and Salford City Council currently working on the “ambitious proposals”.
Artistic impressions of what the redeveloped region could look like have already been released, but now both members of the public, local businesses and stakeholders are being invited to share their feedback.
We have opened a consultation this week about the ambitious plans for Strangeways and Cambridge where we want to support existing businesses to thrive, create new jobs and build thousands of new homes – including lots of affordable housing.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) March 26, 2025
Focusing on the ‘fringe’ communities of Strangeaways and Cambridge, the councils’ joint consultation process is underway and is set to last eight weeks
While Manc, Salfordians and more can share their thoughts online, a number of in-person discussions will be taking place between two venues – one in Salford and another in Cheetham Hill.
The first of these meetings is being hosted at the Broughton Community Centre this Saturday, 29 March from 10am to 3pm, with the second scheduled for the following Tuesday (1 April).
Aanother series of assemblies will begin at The Yard on Monday, 7 April from 3-7pm. You can find the other dates below:
Thursday 24 April, 3-7pm – Salford
Tuesday 29 April, 3-7pm – Salford
Thursday 1 May, 3-7pm – The Yard
Tuesday 6 May, 3-7pm – The Yard
Manchester City Council Leader, Bev Craig, said of the plans’ progress thus far: “This framework is our shared long-term vision, alongside our colleagues in Salford, to deliver a transformation in the Strangeways and Cambridge communities.
“We have an opportunity to create a platform for development and investment, enabled by the successful work carried out by the ‘Operation Vulcan‘ partnership, to support businesses to grow and prosper in these neighbourhoods – creating thousands of new jobs and support the ongoing growth of our city – alongside a major new public park and new homes, including Council, social and genuinely affordable housing.
“We know this area has challenges, including the prison that presents a key barrier to the regeneration of the area, but we also know that there is energy and a community brimming with potential.
“We will deliver huge change in Strangeways in the coming years, working alongside the people who live and work there, and as we move to consultation in the coming weeks, we want to speak to local people and businesses about how we can make this part of the city thrive.”
What the area could look like compared to its current appearance. (Credit: Manchester City Council/David Long via Geograph)
The consultation process will end officially close on Monday, 26 May and the results will then be reported back to the both councils’ relative cabinet committees, as The Draft Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) has already been reviewed by both.
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, went on to add: “We’ve been on a journey of growth and regeneration in recent years, and our work has changed the landscape in different parts of Salford for the benefit of our residents…
“This framework proposes options for the Salford part of the SRF, taking into account the requirements of residents and local businesses, and the need for quality housing in the area. The key will be to balance these needs with what the long-term flood data is telling us and how we future-proof the area against climate change.
“The proposals in the framework seek to identify the best possible options for this area. These include the exciting opportunity to create a new city park for all, with an option for appropriate levels of mixed-use development, to continue to drive sustainable growth.”
It goes without saying that the presence of HMP MCR, a.k.a. ‘Strangeways Prison’, still presents a major image problem, especially given both historic and even more recent headlines.
However, with so many historic areas of central Manchester and beyond having been transformed over the past decade, who knows what the next 10 years will hold for this particular area?
Once again, you can offer your feedback on the Strangeways and Cambridge regeneration plans HERE.
Featured Images — Supplied via Manchester and Salford City Councils/David Long (via Geograph)
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A queer comedy night is coming to Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
A comedy night packed with raunch and hilarious storytelling is heading to Manchester and its fronted by one of comedy’s leading queer comedians.
Titled ‘Queer as F*ck’ (we love a good pun), this night is devoted especially to queer comedy and sees Welsh comedian Morgan Rees taking the wheel with a wonderful roster of acts set to play too.
Taking inspiration from the cult-favourite queer comedy, this leading comedian is no stranger to seeing his work in the limelight as he has written for some of the funniest flagship shows like Mock The Week and The Great American Joke-Off.
Rees also doubles as the co-writer for smash internet hit The Uncle Roger Show, starring fellow comic Nigel Ng, and will definitely be bringing some of his razor-sharp one-liners on the night.
Ben Hodge, the MC for the queer comedy night in Manchester.Morgan Rees, the comedian headlining ‘Queer as F*ck’.Jenny Hart, one of the acts lined up for the queer comedy night in Manchester.Credit: Press Images (supplied)
The event, which has the full title of ‘brew. haha: Queer as F*ck comedy night’ will be MC’d by trans-male stand-up Ben Hodge and lesbian comedian Louise Young.
The latter may be a familiar name as she is currently supporting Alan Carr and Tom Allen on their latest tour while also stopping off in Manchester for this very special occasion.
Along with Rees and co., finishing the line-up are two impressive performers ready to raise the roof at this comedy night in Manchester: gay author Martin Dixon and trans comedian Jenny Hart.
Obviously, Rees doesn’t want to give everything away, but he has revealed an insight into what guests can expect to be chuckling away at in their seats.
Morgan Rees is excited to talk about “bad one night stands, growing up queer in a Welsh working class town, coming out late, and starting my first relationship in my 30s – it’s all in there.”
Taking place at Contact Theatre, this much-loved arts space is tucked away just behind the University of Manchester and another impressive city centre venue, Manchester Academy.
And if all this comedy talk wasn’t enough to get you down there, brew will be serving up Detroit-style pizzas with a range of draft beers and ciders – what a night you’re in for.
‘brew. haha: Queer as F*ck’ is coming to the Contact in Manchester on Wednesday, 9 April and ttickets are already on sale.
The Manc -
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