Police force gets top grade in new quality rating

Greater Manchester Police has been given the highest possible rating in a new national quality ranking system, four years after it was taken out of special measures.

The force has been awarded Level 1 status in the Home Office's Police Performance System, which was introduced by the government in April.

The rating means it requires no action or intervention.

GMP said the outcome was "a source of considerable encouragement and one in which every one of its members can take legitimate pride".

Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said: "Whilst this is an occasion upon which we should reflect with some satisfaction, we should also recognise that performance is not a destination but a continuing endeavour.

"The communities we serve rightly expect us to strive constantly for improvement and we remain ambitious and restless in that pursuit."

In 2020, the force was put into special measures after a report found it had failed to record 80,000 crimes in a year.

The matter led to the resignation of the former chief constable.

Two years later it was taken out of the measures, and then the following year the watchdog found the force had significantly improved.

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