Greater Manchester Police
North West · Territorial force · 8,200 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
8,200
Staff
3,400
Area (sq miles)
493
Population served
2,870,000
About Greater Manchester Police
Covering the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, GMP is one of the largest and busiest forces. Recently invested heavily in technology and neighbourhood policing after a period of improvement.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) operates within the vibrant North West of England, covering the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester. This extensive urban area includes a mix of densely populated city spaces and suburban regions, making it one of the UK's largest and busiest police forces. GMP shares its borders with several neighboring territories, and this geographical diversity introduces a unique set of operational challenges, particularly in the context of a bustling transport network that includes bus, rail, and tram services.
Among its notable specialist capabilities, GMP has several distinct units that address the specific needs of the community, including a dedicated Cyber Crime Unit focused on tackling online crimes, and the Serious and Organised Crime Group that deals with severe criminal activities. The force also emphasizes community engagement through its Neighbourhood Policing Teams, aiming to foster positive relationships with local residents.
Recently, GMP has prioritized tackling violent crime, increasing visibility and engagement within local communities, and enhancing responses to domestic abuse cases. They are also investing in new technology to improve efficiency in policing operations, reflecting a commitment to adapt and modernize their approaches to serve the public effectively. This alignment with contemporary issues and proactive measures demonstrate GMP's focus on supporting and safeguarding Greater Manchester's diverse population.
Current priorities
- Tackling violent crime
- Increasing community engagement
- Enhancing domestic abuse responses
- Investing in technology to improve efficiency
Notable specialisms
Source: About Greater Manchester Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
8,200
Staff
3,400
Total headcount
11,600
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
good
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Greater Manchester Police is named in 4 recent IOPC investigation outcomes or HMICFRS thematic reports.
Greater Manchester Police officer demoted after investigation following death of man in Wigan
2025-11-06 · IOPC
Investigation into fatal police shooting in Crumpsall
2025-10-03 · IOPC
Statement on investigation into use of force arrests at Manchester Airport
2024-12-20 · IOPC
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 0 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 0% of records.
No stop-and-search records were published for Greater Manchester Police for 2026-08.
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Misconduct hearing outcomes
64 published misconduct-hearing outcomes for Greater Manchester Police. Officer names are omitted; follow the source link for the full published record.
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Greater Manchester Police over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Greater Manchester Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join Greater Manchester Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.