About GMPA
ABOUT US
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.
HOW WE WORK
The Police Authority has 19 members who meet regularly on committees to call GMP to account in key areas of police work such as performance, human resources, complaints and finance.
Committee meetings are attended by members of the Chief Officer team. They are open to members of the public which ensures key decisions made about police business are made in an open and transparent way. In addition, the public can put questions to the committees by submitting them in writing beforehand.
There are 10 Councillor Members appointed, one each from the 10 councils which make up Greater Manchester. GMPA's nine Independent Members are local people appointed following a recruitment process. One member is also a serving magistrate.
GMPA Members are decision makers. They are supported by a team of staff who provide them with the information they need to make the best decisions possible. Staff look at new legislation to make sure GMPA is in line with the law, they develop policies, undertake consultation, analyse and scrutinise aspects of policing and support the Members in their work. They also report work to the committees.
There is much more information throughout the site about GMPA's work and how you can be a part of it and you are invited to take a few minutes to find out about how you can get involved and how you can have your say on how you are policed.
If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact us and we will be glad to help.
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, detachingits functionfrom 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 20 May 2010