Greater Manchester Police's back-to-basics Chief Constable Stephen Watson to be knighted - Manchester Evening News

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

He is a Royalist who has transformed Greater Manchester Police from a basket case to a back-to-basics outfit which is not averse to flexing its muscle. It is not surprising then that Chief Constable Stephen Watson has been knighted.

This evening, Sir Stephen said: "It has been the privilege of my life to work amongst the extraordinary officers and staff of Greater Manchester Police and in several other forces across our country. My honour is reflective of their sustained determination, decency and effectiveness in the service of the public."

He praised his wife and family for their 'unstinting support' and sacrifices they had made over the years during his career.

When he took over GMP in May 2021, the force was in special measures. Morale among its frontline was at rock bottom. It has now been recognised as the country's most improved force for three consecutive years.

GMP is the second largest force in England and Wales with 14,500 officers and staff; and an operating budget of approximately £820m.

He arrived with a reputation for turning around ailing forces. He joined GMP from South Yorkshire Police, which he also pulled out of the mire and left that force on 'a strong upward trajectory'.

Watson never seeks to hog the limelight. He has no social media presence and is seen within policing as a traditionalist. But when things need to be said, he isn't afraid to be heard.

Even though it did not happen on his watch, he apologised 'unreservedly' for the force's response on the night of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.

He admitted the force was 'inadequate' in its efforts. Watson fully accepted the findings of the inquiry into the attack, volume two of which was issued in 2022.

Under Watson, policing in the region has been seen to be tough. He has used dispersal orders - an under-used tactic - as a key part of his manifesto.

His stated mission was to turn around a failing force. Criminals were smirking.

Watson has overseen the doubling of the number of arrests and led a fourfold rise in the number of stop search encounters. His explanation was refreshingly blunt: "It's called police work - it's what we should do."

His decision to champion old-fashioned neighbourhood policing has been taken up by the current Labour government as a blueprint for the right way to protect communities. Watson did not shy from describing the 'incredibly challenging' police budget announced by the government.

Watson is also savvy in nourishing morale amongst his 8,000 officers and halting an exodus which was happening before his arrival. He told the Manchester Evening News recently: "Our people are really impressive and, candidly, the public should know that and respect the fact they really do put it out there.

"And very often it comes at the expense of family life and all the rest of it." He has also replaced their shoddy cheap kit with new equipment."

By the end of 202, he had replaced virtually all the senior cops in the force and scraped as 'complete tosh' his predecessor's 'Citizen Charter', which emphasised the cuts facing police and urged people to think carefully before contacting GMP, as part of his 'back to basics' plan.

The high profile Operation Vulcan, in which everything is thrown at a lawless area for months - not weeks - has seen success. It resulted in Manchester's infamous 'Counterfeit Street' being dismantled after decades as the hooky clothes capital of the UK.

Derker, in Oldham, where armed gangs acted with impunity and the vile practice of cuckooing was widespread, has had the same treatment with multiple police raids, arrests and seizures of weapons and drugs. Piccadilly Gardens remains for GMP, a work in progress.

But the three are all an indication of what policing under the leadership of Watson is like - robust and relentless. And he looks the part - six foot, immaculately turned out, with a commanding voice.

The father of two children, Watson enjoys sailing, rugby union, travelling, current affairs and history. He has a Masters degree in business administration and is plain speaking.

He hit the headlines in April when he told Times Radio police officers should stop wasting their time investigating 'guff' and tell people reporting 'fluff and nonsense' on social media to 'grow up'.

Watson has 37 years of service and started his career in 1988 as a constable with Lancashire Constabulary. He served in Merseyside where he was Area Commander for Liverpool North, the Met as Commander for the East Area of London; Durham Constabulary as Deputy Chief Constable, and South Yorkshire as Chief Constable.

As a qualified firearms and public order commander, he regularly performed Gold Command roles in several high-profile policing operations and critical incidents, including a fatal helicopter crash in central London and in working across East London to restore public confidence in the aftermath of the 2011 riots.

As a senior member of the 2012 Olympic Command Team, he was awarded the Commissioner's Commendation in recognition of his role, which involved the planning and delivery of all territorial policing across London throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In 2023 he was appointed as a non-executive director on the Board of the College of Policing before assuming the role of Service Director for the Executive Leadership element of the UK's prestigious Police Leadership Programme.

He will no doubt be looking forward to crossing paths with Royalty again. One of his most precious memories was receiving the Queen's Police Medal in 2019 from Her late Majesty.

Sir Stephen said: "I was delighted and humbled in equal measure on learning that I was to receive an honour from HM The King. I am immensely grateful to my wife and family for their unstinting support; they have willingly made innumerable sacrifices over many years, as is the case for so many police families.

"My own good fortune only arises because of the guidance, support and confidence provided to me by a great number of excellent colleagues over a long career.

"It has been the privilege of my life to work amongst the extraordinary officers and staff of Greater Manchester Police and in several other forces across our country. My honour is reflective of their sustained determination, decency and effectiveness in the service of the public."