GMP: Tactical aid unit will provide Leigh police with more resources

In order to provide a better public service to Leigh and surrounding areas, Greater Manchester Police announced that it would be transferring part of its Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) to Leigh Police Station last week.

Carrying out high-profile disruption and targeting serious and organised crime, re-stationed TAU officers will be able to respond quicker to crime and anti-social behaviour in and around Leigh.

While the TAU's focus will be on serious and organised crime, the Chief Superintendent for Wigan and Leigh confirmed that the teams will share resources, meaning that the extra officers will help the local force to go on more patrols and respond to more incidents in Leigh.

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GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson speaking with Ashton-in-Makerfield MP Yvonne Fovargue, Leigh South Cllr Kevin Anderson, and Leigh MP James Grundy (Image: GMP)

Chief Spt Higham, who was appointed as District Commander in 2021, said: "The Tactical Aid Unit is made up of specialist officers who are trained in responding to serious incidents.

"Naturally, when they are not responding to serious crime, they are going to be on general patrols in Leigh and our known crime hotspots, and provide extra resources to general policing.

"This will help us to be more visible in communities, respond to crimes quicker, and build on the successes we have been making in policing Wigan and Leigh."

Officers and politicians were present at the TAU event at Leigh Police Station (Image: GMP)

After almost two years in special measures following a failure to record thousands of crimes across Greater Manchester, officers say that the part relocation of the TAU is another example of their improvements in policing and their focus on communities.

Taken out of special measures late last year, Wigan and Leigh officers are reported to have cut their open cases from 8,000 to around 4,000 in the year to October 2022.

16 TAU officers and 2 sergeants will be relocating to Leigh Police Station (Image: Leigh Journal)

Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who was appointed to guide the force out of special measures, welcomed the restationed officers at Leigh Police Station on Friday, February 3, and explained the TAU move to the borough's MPs.

CC Watson said: “Being able to respond to incidents and emergencies as effectively as we can is at the very heart of GMP.

“Having the TAU based in the north of the force area means we can better serve our communities and keep people safe.

“Operations and critical incidents are the bread and butter of the TAU. They are the team with the specialist skills and knowledge that can support our people and keep them safe.

“This move also shows the commitment we have to ensuring GMP is a force that is attractive to officers from other areas who may be looking for a move.

"It is my absolute pleasure to open this base in Leigh which will allow us more effectively to fight, prevent, and reduce crime.”

Improvements in arrests, warrants, and response times were noted to have earned GMP extra resources to be shared across the region and allow them to be put into neighbourhood policing, which is a core feature of the Chief Constable's reign.

Leaders, officers, and part of the TAU at Leigh Police Station (Image: GMP)