Oldham Lib-Dems - Burnham must face further questions over GMP

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Saddleworth West and Lees, Sam Al-Hamdani

At the most recent meeting of Oldham’s Full Council, Liberal Democrat councillors called on Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to come to the town to field questions from councillors on the state of Greater Manchester Police. 

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Saddleworth West and Lees, Sam Al-Hamdani, said: “Politically, accountability has been lacking throughout the time that Greater Manchester Police has been in special measures. 

"Will the Leader of the Council write to Mayor Burnham asking him to come to Oldham to field questions from councillors on the ongoing situation affecting Greater Manchester Police – as he has done elsewhere in Greater Manchester.”

GMP has been in special measures since December 2020 after it became only the second police force in the country to require intervention from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies.

An average of 220 crimes per day went unrecorded during 2019 and 2020. 

Earlier this year iOPS – GMP’s IT system for the recording of crime – was scrapped. 

In March 2021 it emerged that GMP had only managed to act on 8.5% of reported crime – the second worst figure in the country. 

Responding to Councillor Al-Hamdani’s challenge, Leader of the Council councillor Amanda Chadderton said that Mayor Burnham ‘absolutely should’ face questions from Oldham’s elected representatives.

A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Mayor told the Chronicle that Mr Burnham was accessible to both the public, and local councillors.

"Andy appears on Radio Manchester 'Hot Seat' every week, and holds a regular question time during which councillors can ask questions.

"He also holds regular police accountability meetings to which all councillors are invited.

"The first one took place in Oldham", they added.

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