This Council Meeting notes that:
· Greater Manchester Police's own figures show that 23% of 101 calls were abandoned in June, up from 17% in May;
· People across Stockport and Greater Manchester have been complaining of the difficulty of getting through to the Police on the 101 number;
· When someone witnesses a crime, calls 101 and gives up not only does that person not have the crime investigated, but the Police miss out on intelligence to inform their priorities;
· When the public try to report crimes but fail because they cannot speak to the Police within a reasonable time, the crime figures will appear lower than they really are;
· Funding for the Police is principally set by the Government, with the Mayor of Greater Manchester also able to set a precept to raise additional funds; and
· In the past was possible to report offences via the GMP Website but this functionality no longer exists.
This Council Meeting believes it is fundamental to a well-functioning Police force, to reducing crime and to tackling the fear of crime that people across Greater Manchester are able to easily and conveniently report crimes and intelligence to the Police.
This Council Meeting therefore asks the Chief Executive to write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester calling for an urgent review into how the system can be improved to make it easier, quicker and more convenient for members of the public to report crimes, suspicions of crimes and intelligence on crimes to the Police.
Moved by: Councillor Iain Roberts
Seconded by: Councillor Mark Weldon
Minutes:
MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes that:
· Greater Manchester Police's own figures show that 23% of 101 calls were abandoned in June, up from 17% in May;
· People across Stockport and Greater Manchester have been complaining of the difficulty of getting through to the Police on the 101 number;
· When someone witnesses a crime, calls 101 and gives up not only does that person not have the crime investigated, but the Police miss out on intelligence to inform their priorities;
· When the public try to report crimes but fail because they cannot speak to the Police within a reasonable time, the crime figures will appear lower than they really are;
· Funding for the Police is principally set by the Government, with the Mayor of Greater Manchester also able to set a precept to raise additional funds; and
· In the past was possible to report offences via the GMP Website but this functionality no longer exists.
This Council Meeting believes it is fundamental to a well-functioning Police force, to reducing crime and to tackling the fear of crime that people across Greater Manchester are able to easily and conveniently report crimes and intelligence to the Police.
This Council Meeting therefore asks the Chief Executive to write to the Mayor of Greater Manchester calling for an urgent review into how the system can be improved to make it easier, quicker and more convenient for members of the public to report crimes, suspicions of crimes and intelligence on crimes to the Police.
AMENDMENT MOVED AND SECONDED - This Council Meeting notes that:
· Greater Manchester Police's own figures show that a spike of 23% in 101 calls were recorded as abandoned in June, up from 17% in May; before dropping back down to a lower level in July;
· People across Stockport and Greater Manchester have been complaining of the difficulty of getting through to the Police on the 101 number;
· When someone witnesses a crime, calls 101 and gives up not only does that person not have the crime investigated, but the Police miss out on intelligence to inform their priorities;
· When the public try to report crimes but fail because they cannot speak to the Police within a reasonable time, the crime figures will appear lower than they really are;
· Funding for the Police is principally set by the Government, with the Mayor of Greater Manchester also able to set a precept to raise additional funds.
This Council therefore notes with approval actions already undertaken to address the forgoing circumstances, including;
· This Council, as represented by Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Bailey, having already written on the 17th September to the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, highlighting the difficulties experienced with the 101 number;
· A subsequent meeting between the Deputy Mayor for policing and Crime, Beverly Hughes, and the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, Ian Hopkins on the matter, resulting in;
· 30 new staff being taken on for the 101 service to be trained and supervised by 8 assigned sergeants and 8 assigned constables; and
· A new online ‘web chat’ facility being brought forward to facilitate easier public contact with the police.
This Council Meeting believes it is fundamental to a well-functioning Police force, to reducing crime and to tackling the fear of crime that people across Greater Manchester are able to easily and conveniently report crimes and intelligence to the Police, and recognises cross-party concern on this issue.
This Council Meeting therefore resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to both the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester to make them aware of this motion and the formal concerns of the Council in relation to this matter;
· Request that the Council is kept informed on initiatives and actions to reduce the current call abandonment;
· Continue to work will all relevant partners to take whatever actions are necessary to facilitate easier, quicker and more convenient means for members of the public to report crimes, suspicions of crimes and intelligence on crimes to the Police, and
· Request that the Chief Constable includes an update on progress when Officers present their annual update to elected members in 2018.