GMP reaches highest arrest rate in two years - but Chief Constable says courts can't keep up
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe head of Greater Manchester Police has called for more judges, magistrates courts and sitting court days amid a backlog of criminal cases.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson made the comments after revealing GMP 'punching its weight again' in terms of increased arrests and charges being brought, was putting "beneficial" pressure on the criminal justice system in Greater Manchester.
The force was placed in special measures in December 2020 after a report revealed an estimated 80,000 crimes had not been properly recorded but in October last year, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary lifted the sanction and praised the force for improvements made. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community Chief Constable Watson, who has spoken widely of a need to get back to policing 'basics' and recently announced an extra 264 warranted officers would be posted to neighbourhood teams across the city region, confirmed response times were down from six minutes and 44 seconds to one minute and four seconds.
Arrests by GMP are now said to be at their highest level for two years - up 60 per cent - and the number of people charged with a crime is also said to have risen by some 42 per cent.
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