Top cop fires warning after GMP slammed over officers stopping for pics in 'problem areas' then driving off

A top cop has urged police to patrol their communities on foot after residents spoke of officers posing for photographs in 'problem areas' before disappearing.

The Manchester Evening News reported that Edgeley residents had seen officers getting out of police cars to take a photo before driving off - only to claim they had patrolled the area on Greater Manchester Police's Facebook page for Stockport. Incidents were flagged up to Coun Sheila Bailey, who wrote to Chief Constable Stephen Watson expressing her concerns.

Now, Stockport's divisional commander has warned colleagues that officers must be seen patrolling areas on foot. In response to Coun Bailey's email, Chief Superintendent John Webster warned Stockport police that it was important as GMP tries to rebuild its reputation among the public.

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He wrote: "As we all know, the greatest strategic threat we have in GMP is legitimacy, trust and confidence. Please get some officers out on foot in those areas. Should we post on social media officers in a particular area, I will absolutely want to see evidence that they have been there, (on foot) speaking to our community and spending time there."

Chf Supt Webster was appointed last autumn as part of the force's drive to strengthen policing, with a chief superintendent for each of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs. It's part of the force's attempts to restore confidence under Chf Con Watson following its recent failings, which led to GMP being placed into special measures in late 2020.

Last month, the M.E.N. reported that Stockport residents had spoken out on social media after seeing part of the same Edgeley street