Greater Manchester Police Head Calls for Force Mergers to Prevent Decline

The head of Greater Manchester Police has warned that the number of police forces across England and Wales must be cut substantially to prevent a future decline in crime-fighting standards. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson argued that structural reforms are vital because current forces lack the necessary scale, capacity, and capability to properly tackle complex threats like organized crime and money laundering.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has proposed establishing a new national FBI-style police force alongside larger regional constabularies to better handle everyday street crime and cross-border offenses. Proponents of the overhaul argue that reducing the current network of 43 separate forces would eliminate administrative duplication across headquarters, IT systems, and senior leadership roles, ultimately generating significant financial savings.

While local leaders like Prime Minister have championed regional devolution, Sir Stephen maintained that larger forces can still remain fully accountable to locally elected mayors and authorities. He cautioned that allowing parochial perspectives to block reform would waste an essential opportunity to modernize policing at a time when inflation continues to outstrip government investment.

In separate developments involving the force, Greater Manchester Police recently arrested two men during a raid at a closed nursery in Salford, where officers recovered a firearm and a substantial amount of ammunition. According to Detective Inspector Rich McCorry, officers acted on intelligence to execute the warrant, though authorities emphasized that the operation was entirely unrelated to the business's recent shutdown over an unrelated vermin infestation.

Meanwhile, the force's internal integrity measures have also drawn attention after two additional officers resigned in disgrace ahead of disciplinary hearings. Sergeant Liam Smith and another officer were found guilty of gross misconduct for contacting adult sex workers using their work-issued devices for sexual gratification without any legitimate policing purpose. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson noted that such behavior runs the risk of perpetuating the vulnerability of individuals often exploited by criminal third parties.

In another major criminal case handled by the authorities, ten individuals from Greater Manchester and Wolverhampton—including a 16-year-old boy—were charged following a seven-month investigation into the large-scale supply and distribution of illicit drugs. The suspects face multiple charges related to conspiracy to supply controlled substances across classes A, B, and C.

Authorities are also investigating a series of ongoing attacks on homes believed to house migrants in the Greater Manchester area, which have involved smashed windows, damaged vehicles, and anti-migrant graffiti. A 35-year-old man has been formally charged with two counts of criminal damage in connection with the incidents, while police continue to investigate the wider disturbances.