Traditional cop on a mission to save crisis force
New GMP chief has record of turning round fortunes of failing outfits
WHEN Stephen Watson finally takes his seat in his modest office on the fourth floor of GMP’s headquarters in Newton Heath, his in-tray will be bulging with files which may as well be unexploded bombs.
The dangerous ordnance on the desk will have strange acronyms plastered across them like HMICFRS and iOPS.
But if anyone can defuse them, it is Stephen Watson - who is taking over as the new chief constable of Greater Manchester Police - a measured, determined and eloquent copper with a record of turning around failing police forces.
It’s worth just pausing on this boast, one he surely made when he was interviewed for the post on Tuesday by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and his deputy Bev Hughes.
And, if he made it, it will have resonated deeply with his inquisitors.
When he was installed as the top man at South Yorkshire Police (SYP) in July 2016, he was taking control of a force that, if not failing, was struggling badly at dealing with the basics of policing.
“He’s got loads of experience and sorted out South Yorkshire,” one senior police officer told the M.E.N.
There have been notable bumps in the road, but in policing circles he is credited with restoring the credibility of SYP.
Some of those bumps were serious.
He had to deal with the fallout of the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal almost as soon as he arrived, although it had happened long before he was installed. The failure of the police to help victims was ‘totally inexplicable and unforgivable,’ he said.
“We have as an organisation to take it on the chin.
“There were things happening in front of us that we just did not spot and if we did spot we lacked the professionalism, the professional curiosity to actually do what the public pay us for and for that there is no defence I’m afraid,” he reportedly said.
The people of Rochdale - who are more than familiar with grooming scandals - will perhaps appreciate what sounds very much like sincerity.
He was forced to apologise to Sir Cliff Richard in 2018 after the singer won a privacy case against the BBC over coverage of a raid at his home.
The force, which had provided a reporter information about an investigation into allegations against Sir Cliff, agreed to pay him £400,000.
He also spoke of ‘regrets’ that some ‘decent people’ were arrested at protests in Sheffield over moves to fell 5,500 trees in the city.
However, it’s away from such high-profile cases and in amongst the basics of police work that he is regarded as having excelled.
Despite a plummy accent, the people of South Yorkshire took to him.
He is a traditionalist who likes police to look like police.
He re-introduced old-style Dixon of Dock Green-style helmets.
The very many tattooed officers of GMP may have a little problem up their sleeves - at South Yorkshire he insisted any tattoos weren’t visible.
He put neighbourhood policing at the centre of everything the force did.
South Yorkshire Police has now been ranked as the most improved force in the country for three consecutive years.
It’s a trick everyone in Greater Manchester hopes he can repeat as
GMP is currently a failing force and effectively in special measures.
First the unexploded bomb with the letters HMICFRS on it: it refers to last year’s damning report of the government’s police watchdog, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, which estimated the force had failed to properly record an estimated 80,000 crimes.
It raised serious questions about how the force handled domestic violence and child protection, as well as delayed, dropped and badlyplanned investigations.
The second bit of ordinance, the one with iOPS written across it, concerns a disastrous £27m new IT system named Integrated Operational Policing System which was installed in July 2019, some 19 months behind schedule.
Government inspectors later concluded the IT system had exposed hundreds of vulnerable people to ‘potential risk of harm.’
Arguably both these devices have already exploded, in which case Stephen Watson will have to clear up the mess if not diffuse them.
Combined, these two events cost the current chief constable Ian Hopkins his £200,000-a-year job.
Even though he was forced to vacate the chair Mr Watson will soon call his own, he remains on the payroll until his contract expires later this year. It means the force is paying for two chief constables until October.
One thing which clearly distinguishes the next incumbent from his predecessor is that he has no identifiable social media profile.
There is no Twitter account and almost nothing is known publicly about his family circumstances.
Ian Hopkins left Twitter for a period such was the vitriol which was sent his way.
Many senior police officers are happy to share a little of their private lives on their profile pages but not Mr Watson.
It is known, however, that he has two children and enjoys sailing, rugby union, travelling, current affairs and history. He has a masters degree in business administration.
The sailing may well help him navigate the choppy waters ahead.
I am confident we have found the right person to lead the force into a new era
Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester mayor
After a distinguished 31-year career in policing that has taken him all across the country, it is Stephen Watson the police officer rather than Stephen Watson the social media star - the cop tasked with turning around GMP - he would prefer us all to see.
He clearly impressed Mayor Burnham during his interview, although it must be said there were only two other candidates: the current acting chief constable Ian Pilling and the chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police, Craig Guildford.
It was a surprise that Nick Adderley, a Manchester-raised former senior officer at GMP who is the current chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, did not even apply.
Mayor Burnham said: “This has been a challenging period for Greater Manchester Police but I am confident that we have found the right person to lead the force into a new era.
“Chief Constable Watson has a proven record of improving police performance and establishing the positive, accountable, victim-centred culture that I have said I want to see.”
His recommendation is set to be discussed and is expected to be ratified at the Greater Manchester Police, Crime and Fire Panel on Friday.
Mr Watson said: “The challenges that lie ahead for Greater Manchester Police reflect where we were as a force five years ago. “South Yorkshire’s progress provides inspiration and motivation to others of exactly what can be achieved.
“I’m delighted to take on the role of Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police but will be always have a deep affinity for South Yorkshire and remain proud of the transformation we achieved together as a community.
“South Yorkshire Police is now on a strong upward trajectory and I have every faith that the force will sustain the outstanding progress that has been made given the truly excellent people that make up the SYP of today.”