Scrutiny report tribute to chairwoman

Gloria Oates

Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) has paid tribute to the late Gloria Oates OBE DL, one year after her death.

The Police Authority has launched an Update Report for the award-winning scrutiny review of major events policing – Preserving the Peace: The Policing of Major Events in Greater Manchester. The report has been published in memory of Ms Oates, who was Chairwoman of the Scrutiny Commission and Vice Chairwoman of the Police Authority.

The Update Report outlines the progress of key recommendations around a number of themes including planning and tactics, training and guidance, human rights and civil liberties and community engagement. It also gives a brief account of steps undertaken to publicise the report along with feedback received about the study.

Highlights include: 

• Details of approaches from other forces to adopt GMP’s Events Logistics System, a key tool used in the planning and delivery of major events policing.
• Improvements to the way containment tactics are used during public protests, including the use of pre-printed leaflets, Bluetooth technology and dot matrix signs to keep the public informed.
• Training delivered to community members involved in organising events.
• Development of a template which works out and illustrates the full and true costs of policing football matches. This can be used to demonstrate to local clubs the value for money service they receive from GMP.
• The use of Twitter and other social networks to provide information and reassurance during protests. 

Christine McGawley JP, Vice Chairwoman of GMPA, said: “It has been a busy 12 months since we published the last report with lots of interest from ACPO, HMIC and police forces across the UK. In June, GMPA was also awarded a Good Scrutiny Award for ‘Raising the Profile’ of scrutiny.

“It’s this interest that has led us to producing an Update Report and we felt it would be a fitting tribute to Gloria to publish it in her memory. Gloria led the review of major events policing with great determination and commitment, just as she did with all her work across the Police Authority.

“That this award-winning scrutiny project has achieved national recognition, and is having an impact on the way GMP and other forces police major events is a lasting legacy to Gloria. It also highlights the key role Police Authorities play in holding the police to account on behalf of their communities and this best practice has set a benchmark for future scrutiny work carried out by GMPA.”

A copy of the Update Report is available at www.gmpa.gov.uk/majoreventspolicing.