Gloria’s legacy to improve policing

Project leader’s influence will have an impact

A COMMUNITY stalwart is continuing to influence the region even after her death.

Gloria Oates OBE, who held a number of important roles, died last month at 71 after a short illness..

Recommendations to improve policing at major events from an in-depth scrutiny project she led shortly before her death have now been put forward.

Mrs Oates was vice-chairman of Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA), the organisation with responsibility for holding Greater Manchester’s Chief Constable to account.

She chaired a commission that compiled a report called Preserving the Peace, which features proposals in the areas of policing high-profile events, football matches, protests and large-scale events.

Mrs Oates said at the time: “The impact of the policing of the G20 summit protests was not only felt in London.

“Here in Greater Manchester it became evident that local people had concerns.

“We responded by setting up a commission to deliver a piece of work specifically aimed at examining GMP’s approach to policing things like large-scale national conferences, protests and demonstrations, royal visits and football matches.

“This helped us assess the force’s performance, highlight good practice and develop recommendations for improvement for both GMP and other agencies involved in this important area of work.”

A total of 59 recommendations are made throughout the report, compiled after observation, interviews with experts and consultation with the public.

The recommendations for GMP include the development of guides for staff and officers involved in high-profile events, a consistent central point of contact to act as the main liaison with protest groups and police officers to use football matches as an opportunity to build relations with the public.

Recommendations for other agencies include a revised Home Office circular about charging for police services to combine current guidance and relevant case law.

The Association of Chief Police Officers was advised to provide clarity about the definition of events, when the police should be involved and the circumstances where charges should and should not be levied.

And Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies was advised to consider the development of suitable performance measures linked to major events policing.

GMPA will now work in partnership with GMP to ensure review findings are addressed.

Mrs Oates was the chief executive of Oldham NHS Trust, which ran the Royal Oldham Hospital, from 1994 until 2002.

She was the major force behind the creation of the present Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust which united services in Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and North Manchester.

She was also chairman of governors at Oldham Sixth Form College.