Have your say on role of policing

The future of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) will be under the spotlight at a public meeting next Tuesday (2 August).

Rochdale is to host one of 10 public meetings across the county with the chief constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Peter Fahy, and chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA), Councillor Paul Murphy.

Rochdale residents are invited to attend Committee Room 1 and 2 of the Town Hall on Tuesday 2 August from 5.00pm to 7.00pm to discuss policing today and tomorrow.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: “These are exceptional times for policing and we’re in a situation we’ve not found ourselves in before. GMP faces challenges to deliver the promises we made in the policing plan for this year to continue to reduce crime, protect vulnerable people, reduce antisocial behaviour and strengthen local policing, all while continuing to deliver value for money.

“We are concentrating on preserving frontline services and will continue to focus on neighbourhood policing. To make the savings, we face some very difficult decisions between what we know works and what people want.

“This is an opportunity for Rochdale residents to ask questions and discuss the difficult decisions that will be made to ensure that the people of the county are kept safe in the coming years.”

There will also be the opportunity to meet Rochdale’s divisional commander, Chief Superintendent John O’Hare, and other local officers. 

Councillor Paul Murphy, chairman of Greater Manchester Police Authority, said: “We recognise that the public are rightly concerned about how budget cuts will affect their police service. These events are an opportunity for us to have a conversation with our residents about this issue and answer their questions as best we can.

“Tough decisions have been and will be made, but we need to make sure we continue to listen to the public of Greater Manchester and involve them in the challenges we face – this is what these events are about.”