Trafford council has called on Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to set out ‘an action plan’ to address the city-region’s police force being placed into special measures.
A motion submitted by the Liberal Democrats party at last night’s full council meeting passed, with a Labour amendment.
Around 8,000 crimes in Trafford went unrecorded by GMP’s systems last year – 80,000 across the city region.
The motion called for clear steps to be outlined as to how Greater Manchester Police will be brought ‘up to scratch’ in Trafford.
Liberal Democrat Coun Jane Brophy said: “[There is] a crisis of leadership in our city’s policing.
“Over 80,000 crimes unrecorded, 220 crimes each day. An estimated one in four violent crimes are included in these figures.
“These are systematic failings. How can the people of Greater Manchester be expected to place trust in their police force when, if they dial 999, there is a one in four chance their issue won’t even be recorded?”
Coun Mike Freeman, Labour representative for Sale Moor and a former police officer, proffered an amendment to the motion, calling for everyone to acknowledge the hard work of officers in the most difficult of circumstances and in the context of central government cuts.
This amendment passed.
Conservative members emphasised the ultimate responsibility for GMP lies with the Mayor and called on Andy Burnham to resign in their own amendment – something Labour members took issue with and raised the context of substantial cuts made to policing budgets and staffing levels since 2012 to challenge.
This amendment was dismissed, while the motion overall, with the Labour amendment, passed.
Lib Dem leader Coun Julian Newgrosh said: “We are pleased to have secured a commitment from Trafford council requesting a formal policing ‘action plan’ from Andy Burnham.
“However, we find it extremely alarming that, given the scale of the issue facing GMP, only the Liberal Democrats thought it was vital to push the issue onto the council’s agenda at the first opportunity.”
