News

Meet the man tasked with turning Greater Manchester Police around

GMP's new Chief Constable will be Steve Watson - leader of South Yorkshire Police.

The Manc The Manc - 24th March 2021

South Yorkshire Chief Constable Steve Watson has been chosen as the man to lead Greater Manchester Police into a new era, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The MEN published a piece on Wednesday morning revealing that Watson had been chosen from a list of three candidates for the role – which has been filled temporarily by Ian Pilling since Ian Hopkins’ departure in December.

Ex-Constable Hopkins stepped down at the end of last year after GMP entered special measures when it was revealed that over 80,000 crimes had gone unreported.

His replacement Watson has been described as “one of the most experienced senior officers in the country,” with a career spanning three decades.

He has held positions at Merseyside Police, Metropolitan Police and Durham Constabulary, as well as being appointed a senior member of the 2012 Olympic Command Team (and awarded the Commissioner’s Commendation).

Watson took the Chief Constable post at South Yorkshire Police in 2016 and was credited with turning around a “troubled” department – with the force named ‘most improved’ in the country three years in a row.

Watson’s official appointment as Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police is expected to be confirmed later today (March 24).

Feature image: South Yorkshire Police

News

More than 1,300 Clean Air Zone signs to finally be taken down across Greater Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A saga is finally coming to an end… the saga of Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone, that is.

The Clean Air Zone was to initially hand motorists daily charges of up to £60 for some of the most polluting vehicles on Greater Manchester‘s roads.

But many will remember that the deadline for the scheme had been put on hold until while the plan was referred back to the Government for ‘urgent review’ in January 2022, following huge backlash and after then Prime Minister Boris Johnson conceded that it was ‘completely unworkable’ for the region.

The Government agreed to delay the deadline for the scheme until 2026, but local leaders wanted to scrap all charges and help to fund vehicle upgrades instead.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) then set out evidence supporting an investment-led, and, crucially for residents and motorists, a non-charging Clean Air Plan back in June 2022 – which it said was ‘the best solution’ to address the roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) problem.

More than 1,300 Clean Air Zone signs to finally be taken down across Greater Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr

Insights of non-charging plans were published by GMCA back in December 2023.

And then, back in January of this year, it was confirmed that Greater Manchester’s plan for the introduction of a non-charging clean air zone had been backed by the Government.

More than 1,300 Clean Air Zone signs were installed across Greater Manchester at the start of the controversial scheme being initially proposed, as well as a total of 407 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.

Government backs Greater Manchester’s plan for a non-charging clean air zone

But while it was initially thought that this technology may go to waste, it was revealed in March 2023 that they were actually being used for an entirely different reason all together – detecting crime.

While the cameras are intended to stay in place and in use, the more than 1,000 signs are to be taken down.

“We’ve always been focused on doing what’s right for Greater Manchester, and by accelerating investment in our public transport network, we’re showing that it’s possible to improve air quality faster than if a charging Clean Air Zone had been introduced,” commented Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, who is the Clean Air lead for Greater Manchester.

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“As we deliver our Clean Air Plan alongside the Bee Network, with support from the Government, we’ll roll out the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system by the end of the decade and improve the air we all breathe for generations to come.”

Featured Image – The Manc Group

News

A charity match is being held in memory of late footballer Joe Thompson

Danny Jones Danny Jones Joe Thompson charity game 2025

A fundraising match is being held in memory of late footballer and charity champion, Joe Thompson, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The former Manchester United academy product and Rochdale AFC legend famously faced a long battle with cancer, being sadly diagnosed with nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma for the first time back in 2013, being forced into a prolonged period off the pitch and, eventually, early retirement by 2019.

Bath-born Thompson, who also played for Bury at the end of his career, was tragically struck by the illness on three different occasions; after stage four lymphoma spread to his lungs, he sadly died this past April at the age of just 36.

Just the most heartbreaking story, but in honour of Joe’s life, the two clubs closest to his heart and which she shared the strongest connection to are now set to remember him in a special charity game next month.

Announcing the game via social media on 26 July, Rochdale AFC confirmed it will be hosting the fundraising friendly between the Greater Manchester National League outfit and Man United’s under-21s.

Writing on the club website, Rochdale said: “Both clubs will come together to remember Joe, who meant so much to both Dale and United, on Saturday, 2 August (3pm kick-off).

“A minute’s applause will take place before kick-off, whilst members of Joe’s family, who will be in attendance, are selecting some of his favourite music to be played in the build-up to the game.

“Shirts from the match will also be auctioned off post-match, with proceeds going to Joey T’s Foundation when integrated.”

Detailing how his boyhood club have recently introduced the official ‘Joe Thompson Award’, presented to players who have the traits of not just a United person but, more importantly, Joe: “resilience, honesty, integrity, humility, innovation and a relentless work ethic, with a focus on the community.”

He was a truly inspiring individual.

Even after hanging up his boots, he kept moving for a good cause.

With all this in mind, Rochdale will be a charity exhibition match against United’s U21s squad – a team of players who are around Joe’s age when he left The Cliff to join Rochdale.

The club went on to add that all future fixtures between the clubs from now on will include a special trophy, with the first being the National League Cup match, which is due to be staged at their Crown Oil Arena home ground on 21 October.

As for this touching and heartfelt fundraising fixture, once again, the game will take place on Saturday, 2 August, kicking off at 3pm.

You can find out more details about the ‘A Game For Joe’ charity match in aid of the Thompson family’s foundation and grab your tickets HERE.

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Featured Images — Rochdale AFC/Sky Sports (screenshots via YouTube)

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