GMP wins innovation award

GMP Logo

Greater Manchester Police has won an award for innovation in its fight against crime.

The force’s Design for Security consultancy has scooped the Association of Chief Police Officer’s Secured by Design Innovation prize of £10,000. The award recognises GMP’s pioneering work in providing crime prevention design advice to architects, planners and developers.

Design for Security is GMP’s in-house crime-prevention consultancy, which specialises in working with architects, local planners and developers to design buildings that remove criminal opportunities and reduce the risk of crime.

In partnership with local planners and the University of Salford’s Design Against Crime Solution Centre, GMP has developed a unique service providing timely and cost-effective crime prevention advice to the development industry.

A major part of the service is the Crime Impact Statement. This is a collaborative process in which the Design for Security consultant works closely with the architectural design team during the very early stages of development. This work embeds well-established crime prevention principles within the design to protect the proposed buildings from crime.

GMP is currently the only police force in the UK that uses this innovative process, which has been very well received by its partners.

The Design for Security service has deterred criminals from shops and offices and led to improved security in apartments and houses.

Manchester City Council was the first planning authority in Greater Manchester to adopt the Crime Impact Statement process, but it has now rolled out to other local authorities in the area.

The development of this new way of working by GMP has drawn interest from other forces and councils across the country.

Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Seabridge said: “This is a unique example of the benefits of partnership working and illustrates what can be achieved through innovation and lateral thinking. The dedication and foresight of Design for Security with the support of the council has resulted in a ground-breaking process that has achieved huge benefits in crime prevention for Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester local authorities and the community. The award the team has won is testimony to their hard work and expertise.”