GMP launch consultation to determine future of enquiry desks
Up to 10 enquiry desks across Greater Manchester could face closure.
Greater Manchester Police is looking at closing more front desks at its police stations across the region. There are only 22 counters still being staffed due to previous budget cuts and the force is looking at closing 10 more of them. A public consultation is asking people how they want to access police services in future. Designed to find out how people prefer to contact police, the consultation continues GMP’s commitment to continuing to develop the most effective service possible. It aims to identify how the Force can adapt to changes in the ways that people contact them. The consultation will run until 26 September and will include a survey, public feedback sessions and meetings with partners and stakeholders across Greater Manchester. The survey will be available online and in some public enquiry counters with questions focussing on how often someone has contacted the Force and the method through which they did so. It will also ask whether they have used social media or the Force’s website to contact the Force and how often they use public enquiry counters - one of the services that is currently under review. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said: “This is a really important step in making sure our services match the needs of the people that we serve. “The views of people are an important part of developing services for the future and it’s absolutely crucial that we work with the people of Greater Manchester to provide contact methods that work best for them. It’s also important that our resources are appropriately allocated. This survey and feedback sessions that we’ll be bringing to each of our boroughs will help us to do this.”
Demand is currently low at a number of GMP’s public enquiry counters so the Force is considering changes to ensure they are being used in the most effective way. The function of 10 out of GMP’s 22 public enquiry counters is currently being considered. To take part in the survey visit