Plan for a safer, stronger Greater Manchester unveiled

Photo: GMP

Greater Manchester Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Beverley Hughes

The new plan to build a safer and stronger Greater Manchester has been published.

“Standing Together”, sets out the key priorities for building community safety across Greater Manchester over the next three years.

The three-year strategy focuses on three main priorities:

• To keep people safe - for those who live, work, socialise and travel in Greater Manchester, as well as protecting those who are vulnerable.
• To reduce harm and offending – preventing anti-social and criminal behavior by intervening earlier and rehabilitating offenders.
• To strengthen communities and places – by helping to build resilient communities and strengthening the delivery of public assets.

It comes as Mayor Andy Burnham and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Beverley Hughes have restated their commitment to community safety by increasing policing numbers in Greater Manchester for the first time in eight years, pledging to protect Police Community Support Officer numbers, and promising to make improvements to the non-emergency 101 number.

Andy Burnham said: “The plan comes at a challenging time for Greater Manchester Police, as central Government continue to make drastic cuts to the budgets for the police, local authorities and other public services. Despite these cuts, and ever increasing demands for its services, Greater Manchester Police has remained incredibly resilient. They deserve better, as do local communities.

“I am committed to building on the hard work and dedication of our police officers, communities and all our partner organisations, to make our communities safer and increase public confidence in the criminal justice system, while continuing to lobby Government to ensure our police service is properly funded.”