GMP horses in the spotlight

Greater Manchester Police Mounted Unit

A major new documentary series will give people an exclusive look behind the scenes of Greater Manchester Police Mounted Unit.

If you have ever wondered what it takes to keep officers in the saddle and patrolling the streets of Greater Manchester the 13 part series will give the answers. After 18 months of filming, ‘Mounted Branch’ will be screened exclusively on Animal Planet channel (Sky 525) from 10 June.

The series follows the fortunes of the unit’s officers, grooms and most importantly horses as they work to keep Greater Manchester safe.

Chief Inspector Lynn Roby, head of the Mounted Unit, said: “We wanted to give people a chance to see something only a select few ever see – behind the scenes at the stables. The programme allows people to be alongside the officers and staff as they see us choosing and training horses, keeping the horses fit and on patrol making arrests.

“I am delighted that we were given the opportunity to take part and am sure people will find the series entertaining, particularly with some of the equine characters we have.

“Over the seven weeks people will see the hard work of the grooms and officers keeping things running and the real results we achieve in targeting crime hotspots and supporting neighbourhood officers.”

The first two episodes will be shown back-to-back from 8pm on Tuesday 10 June and show the team responding to reports of a disturbance, horses moving into temporary accommodation and PC Keith Edisbury on police horse Saxby arresting a wanted man.

PC Tracy Mortimer says in the programme: “When we are on patrol obviously the horses are a bit of a magnet for people to come over which is a great breakdown of that barrier between police and community, and the horses offer that as a fantastic resource to the police force.”

Programme makers Oval Films said the series: “bears witness to the strong partnership between human and horse, as together they ride into some of the most challenging situations to face a modern police force.”

And Lynn, who has been in charge of the Unit for the past five years, is passionate about the work they do.

She explained: “To actually work with not just the people but to have these fantastic, amazing animals, I really do feel very fortunate to have a job like this.”

The Mounted Unit is based at Hough End, in Chorlton, and has 35 horses and a team of trainers, grooms and 31 officers.