About GMPA

Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) was established in 1995 to make sure the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) force is accountable to the people living and working in Greater Manchester, and that the public can have their say in how the area is policed.

The Authority:

Sets policing priorities and monitors the performance of GMP
Appoints the Chief Constable and the Chief Officer team which includes the Deputy Chief Constable and a team of Assistant Chief Constables and Assistant Chief Officers (the latter are civilians and not police officers)
Monitors the handling of complaints against the police
Consults with the people of Greater Manchester to identify their policing priorities and makes sure that their council tax money is spent effectively
Sets the budget and council tax contributions (precept) to policing

Visit the publications section of this website to access a variety of GMPA policy documents and plans.

A brief history of police authorities

Since the earliest days of policing in England and Wales, there have been governance arrangements in place to oversee the work of the police and make sure that they act fairly and in line with the needs and expectations of local people. Traditionally, this role was fulfilled by Justices of the Peace (JP) and later by powerful Watch Committees comprising elected members and JPs.

These Watch Committees were replaced by police authorities following the introduction of the Police Act (1964), which implemented the recommendations of a 1960 Royal Commission set up in the wake of a series of high profile scandals that threatened public confidence in the police. This landmark law saw the total reorganisation of police into the structures we know today, and gave police authorities certain powers and responsibilities (along with Chief Constables and the Home Office) as part of a ‘tripartite’ system of monitoring the police and holding them to account.

The Police Authority model has undergone some significant changes since then. Following the Scarman report into inner city disturbances in the 1980s, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (1984) required police authorities to consult the public on policing priorities. The Police and Magistrates’ Court Act 1994 saw independent members added to police authorities alongside elected and JP members, made the publication of a Local Policing Plan mandatory and allowed Authorities to charge a separate policing precept. This Act also led to the foundation of GMPA in its current form, detaching its function from council bodies and establishing it as a standalone body.

At present, there are 44 police authorities in England and Wales, one for each regional force, plus one for the British Transport Police. They are represented nationally by the Association of Police Authorities (APA).

This page was last updated on 8 September 2011