'Majority' of cops criticised in shocking GMP review still work for the force

The ‘majority’ of police officers criticised in the review of Greater Manchester Police's treatment of women and girls in custody are still employed by the force, the Chief Constable has said.

Dame Vera Baird’s damning report was released to the public on Thursday (July 18). It found a ‘problematic culture’ at GMP led to officers using the strip-searching of multiple women as ‘a weapon of control’. Chief Constable Stephen Watson apologised for the findings, and said the force would fully implement the recommendations from Dame Vera, the former victim’s commissioner who hails from Chadderton, Oldham.

He said ‘the majority’ of the officers involved in the ‘horror stories’ — as Dame Vera put it — are still on GMP’s payroll.

READ MORE: 'Treated like a piece of meat': The harrowing experiences of women and girls in Greater Manchester Police custody

He told the MEN: “The majority of those complained about are still GMP staff, and they are subject of detailed investigation as to the nature of the complaints.

“In some circumstances we have allegations that have been made of a serious criminal nature. They are being independently investigated, and we stand ready to give fulsome support to those charged with establishing the truth.

“GMP has no room for people who break the law, and misconduct themselves in such a way as to reveal themselves unfit to wear the uniform.”

Before rising the ranks to lead the second-largest police force in the country, Mr Watson was at one time a custody sergeant. He said the behaviour of serving GMP officers was not something he experienced in previous roles.

“Candidly, some of these examples were wrong when I was a custody sergeant, and they are wrong now,” he added.

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