A chief constable who led England’s second largest police force out of special measures has been given a two-year contract extension.
Stephen Watson, whose time leading Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had been due to end in May 2026, was asked to stay on by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Watson took charge of GMP in 2021, the year after inspectors placed the force in special measures for failing to record more than 80,000 crimes.
He said that while Greater Manchester was now “measurably safer” than when he took the reins, “more remains to be done” in coming years.
GMP was taken out of special measures in 2022 after a raft of improvements were made, including quicker response times, improved support for officers, and more accurate recording of crime.
Watson said the reversal had only been made possible “thanks to the immense efforts” of GMP staff.
Under his leadership, arrest numbers increased from about 33,500 in 2021 to more than 67,000 in 2024.
During that time, GMP has also cracked down on counterfeit goods shops and responded to reviews into historical cases of child sexual abuse.
Burnham said the chief constable’s “back-to-basics approach” and commitment to neighbourhood policing had also driven down crime across the city region.
But the mayor added: “While GMP has made significant strides, Stephen and I recognise that there is still more to do.
“That is precisely why today we are backing him to finish the job and deliver the rebuilt trust and confidence that everyone in Greater Manchester should have in their police force.”
News of Watson’s extension comes after the government announced plans for Greater Manchester to get an extra 176 neighbourhood police officers as part of a UK-wide push for more patrols.
