The Remarkable Turnaround of Greater Manchester Police Under anti woke Stephen Watson.

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In just three years, Stephen Watson, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), has transformed a beleaguered force into one of the UK's most improved, according to the official police watchdog. Watson, 55, who describes his leadership style as "back-to-basics," has focused on fundamental policing principles and earned praise from former Conservative home secretaries Priti Patel and Suella Braverman, as well as current Home Secretary James Cleverly. This acclaim comes despite his appointment by Labour's Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor who dismissed Watson's predecessor.

 

Watson’s strategy, which emphasizes getting officers back on the beat, has garnered attention from both political sides, fueling speculation that he might eventually become Britain's most senior officer, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. His tenure has not been without challenges, including navigating the complex investigation into Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, and addressing the fallout from GMP’s wrongful conviction of Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

 

 

Meeting Watson in his office on the fourth floor, adorned with a portrait of Elizabeth II and views of the city skyline, it's clear he embodies a disciplined, military-like presence. Wearing his full police uniform, Watson shares his vision and recounts the transformation of GMP with precise statistics. When he took charge in the summer of 2021, GMP was in "special measures" for failing to record 80,000 crimes—nearly a fifth of that year's total. Emergency response times were the worst in the country, and the force faced severe criticism for its handling of domestic abuse and sexual assault cases.

 

Under Watson's leadership, every crime is now investigated, emergency response times have improved significantly, and arrests for domestic abuse have doubled within a year. Overall crime has decreased by 7.7%. The number of stop-and-searches has quadrupled to 46,029 in a year, contributing to significant reductions in robberies, firearms offenses, and knife injuries. "It is about leadership and having an effective plan," Watson asserts, detailing the force’s successes: "In 12 months, neighborhood crime is down 15.4%, burglary is down 24 points, vehicle crime is down 16.2%, robbery is down 11.2%, theft from the person is down 3.9%."

 

 

Watson’s philosophy involves shifting the force from a reactive to a proactive stance on crime. "We pick up the phone, we get to people quickly, we make accurate records, we investigate all reasonable lines of inquiry. We bring people to justice," he explains. He emphasizes focusing on tangible crime-fighting measures rather than what he sees as distractions from "woke" causes and social media. "Whether it be through adulterating the uniform with pins and badges and having all manner of florid social media accounts—these are all things that I don’t think have a place in policing," Watson states.

 

 

His approach recalls the "broken windows" theory of policing, advocating for addressing minor offenses to prevent more serious crimes. "I expect my officers to enforce moving traffic offenses, litter and graffiti, right the way up through the spectrum. It’s as much about the small stuff as it is about the big stuff," Watson explains. He believes neglecting minor crimes leads to broader societal decay, exemplified by Manchester's Cheetham Hill district, which he transformed from the counterfeit capital of the UK into a safer area through rigorous enforcement and multiple raids.

 

Watson and his deputy chief constable Terry Woods recently completed their annual strategy briefings with over 5,000 staff members, outlining their vision for the year. These meetings, initially termed “giants” to symbolize awakening the "sleeping giant" of GMP, have now dropped the "sleeping" part, reflecting the force's revitalization. Part of their success stems from connecting with frontline officers and emphasizing a return to professionalism, including strict dress codes and smart uniforms. "If you turn up to work, if you’re a female officer, you tie your hair up, if you’re a man you’ve had a shave, you press your clothing, you polish your boots, you look smart, and you look professional. We’re very uncompromising on that," says Watson.

 

 

His leadership style is influenced by his family’s military background. Watson, originally from Warrington, grew up in Rhodesia where his father was a naval officer before the family returned to Britain in 1981. Initially considering a career in the Navy, he was persuaded to join the police by two GMP officers he met in Manchester. Watson joined Lancashire Constabulary in 1988 and steadily rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a key staff officer to Pauline Clare, the first female chief constable in Britain. His experience in this role provided him with invaluable insights into managing a police force.

 

Watson's career trajectory includes significant roles such as chief superintendent in Merseyside, where he handled one of the toughest areas of the city, and a commander in the Met Police, where he played key roles in operations like the Vauxhall helicopter crash response and restoring public confidence after the 2011 riots. He then served as deputy chief constable in Durham, the best performing force in England and Wales, before transforming the "failing" South Yorkshire force into one of the most improved in the country.

 

 

A dedicated family man, Watson maintains a base in Lancashire with his wife, Jane, and their two adult children. His unpretentious nature and loyalty have earned him respect within the force. "He doesn’t try to be something he’s not," says Deputy Chief Constable Woods. Watson's tenure at GMP began with the force ranked 43rd out of 43 in performance ratings. Today, GMP boasts some of the fastest 999 response times and improved crime-solving rates. "We are midway through a journey. We aspire to be outstandingly good at serious and organized crime, neighborhood policing, and child protection," Watson states, aiming to sustain GMP’s momentum amid tightening budgets and economic challenges.

 

Watson’s ultimate goal is for GMP to be recognized as the most improved force in the country for the third consecutive year, a testament to his effective leadership and commitment to fundamental policing principles.

 

Credit: Daily Telepgraph 2024-06-13

 

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[champers]

Tory rag spinning a yarn.

[animalmagic]

1 hour ago, champers said:

 

A Tory rag reporting good news about a Labour appointed Chief of Police.

[Purdey]

And he had done this without guns and shooting  black suspects.

I'm sure there is an armed section of the police, but not shooting people is a win. 

Labour - the law and order party?

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, Purdey said:

And he had done this without guns and shooting  black suspects.

I'm sure there is an armed section of the police, but not shooting people is a win. 

Labour - the law and order party?

He was appointed by a Labour city mayor and has reversed to Tory Police policy of taking officers off local beat patrols.

 

 

 

[Grusa]

Is there a lesson for the RTP here?

 

No, I thought not. Silly question.

[Watawattana]

For me this is a great news story as it shows the benefits of appointing people NOT based on their politics, but more on whether they can be good for the role they are filling.  And then the politician leaving them to get on with it despite the woke bovine brown stuff.  Lots of places can learn from this, but probably won't bother.

[JonnyF]

Great job Stephen.

 

Could someone send Sadiq Khan to Manchester for some training please. 

[StevieAus]

My family and I visited the UK in April/ May and paid a visit to the centre of Manchester. 

There was certainly a big change from my last visit a couple of years ago, the druggies and other low life who were being quite abusive had gone and there was certainly a police presence with officers patrolling on foot. 

Whoever appointed him that area had been cleaned up.