Back to basics: Top cop’s strategy to tackle crime
Trust, better performance and helping residents feel safe is focus for new Stockport chief
I “T would be lovely when the only thing that we have to worry about in Stockport is incredibly low level offending. I’ll never be happy, but I’ll be more content.”
John Webster is the new Chief Superintendent and Divisional Commander of GMP in the town.
He’s speaking in his Cheadle Heath police station office, which features two wall-mounted whiteboards.
Both of them are covered with ideas – there are suggestions on where resources should be directed, which parts of the borough need certain kinds of action, and internal reviews.
However, all the spider diagrams, bullet points, and maps point to one central idea: Back to basics.
That’s the focus for Mr Webster, who has been brought in as part of a shake-up instigated by new Chief Constable, Stephen Watson.
As part of Watson’s drive to revamp the service, he has reinstated an old policy – having one divisional commander for each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs – which is where John Webster comes in.
Ch Supt Webster’s career began in the 1990s in Staffordshire, and then took him up to Merseyside for the last 20 years.
However, he’s left that all behind to make the jump over to Stockport – but why would he leave a well-rated force over in Liverpool for GMP, one of Britain’s most scrutinised services?
“[It’s] a huge opportunity to elevate a great organisation to the position where it should be,” he says.
“Greater Manchester Police is one of the biggest metropolitan forces in the country. It’s a shame that we’re perceived by the public as a failing force.
“The biggest strategic challenge I think the Greater Manchester Police has got is building back that legitimacy, trust, and confidence in the community. And actually, it’s a huge opportunity to be involved and be part of that journey, really.”
The need to get that trust and confidence back is perhaps no more great than in Stockport.
In the past year, councillors in Edgeley and Cheadle Heath councillors sent an open letter to Andy Burnham after a spike in crime and ‘countless’ pleas for reassurance from the police fell on deaf ears.
And areas including Bramhall and Marple have seen spates of burglaries, car thefts and anti-social behaviour – as well as serious assaults.
In order to build trust, Webster’s approach is direct.
“All we have to do is deliver a great service,” he says.
It sounds obvious enough – but being excellent every day doesn’t just happen. To get his division performing at a level where he wants it to be, Webster has picked out three themes.
They are responding to incidents on time, ‘proper’ investigations, and ‘efficient and effective’ neighbourhood policing of Stockport’s streets.
All in all, the threepronged approach is as comprehensive as it is welcome – as are the first fruits of officers’ endeavours under their new boss.
Since his first official day on November 1, a new team has been established to specifically tackle burglary dwelling – which is when criminals invade homes and ‘turn the place over,’ as he puts it.
The need to ramp up resources in this area is glaringly obvious. The force’s detection rate for the crime is a measly two percent.
The new taskforce – headed up by a dedicated DI, will lead to more arrests, he adds.
“Every incidence of burglary dwelling that has an evidential opportunity will be looked at and considered and investigated thoroughly by those officers,” Ch Supt Webster says. “What will happen? Detection rates will rise, more burglars will be arrested.
“And again, that’s a good thing. That’s a good thing because it makes people feel safe.”
A similar approach is being taken to knifepoint robbery, which is a real cause for concern, with officers preparing a prosecution file for a gang of the robbers on the day we speak to the new top cop.
“It would be lovely when the only thing that we have to worry about in Stockport is incredibly low level offending. I’ll never be happy, but I’ll be more content,” Ch Supt Webster adds.
“It’s bothersome when there is people’s houses getting burgled or people being robbed at knifepoint.
“It’s important that people feel safe.
“They do not want to see teenage boys running around on off-road motorcycles on the pavement.”
Ch Supt Webster’s task is not an easy one – nor is he under any illusions otherwise.
To some, his words may come as cold comfort, especially if they’ve fallen victim to crime lately.
Others appreciate his nononsense, plain-speaking approach.
Adding to Webster’s confidence that he can rebuild the police-public relationship is that Stockport does not present any particularly tough policing challenges, he says.
“As a borough it’s very typical,” he explains. “It doesn’t have a huge series of organised crime issues, which is great, which is fantastic.
“But the issues that affect the country – antisocial behaviour, burglary dwellings, robberies – that sort of stuff is an issue.”
Regardless of GMP’s past, one thing is clear: Stockport has a new sheriff in town.