Pete Jackson – Neil Wilby Media

GMP response to racism report ‘disappointing’ says watchdog

On 2nd August, 2021, Amanda Rowe, Regional Director for the Independent Office of Police Conduct, said that Greater Manchester Police’s recent report looking at issues of race equality provides some promising progress on policing and race, but also raises uncomfortable questions that all police forces need to be answering (read full report here). It wasContinue reading “GMP response to racism report ‘disappointing’ says watchdog”

Legal letter stuns Party Leaders into silence

On 27th April, 2021, an article published elsewhere on this website (read in full here), and headlined ‘A Dirty Business‘, revealed, exclusively, an acrimonious dispute between the Leader of Oldham Metropolitan District Council and a fledgling political party in his local ward, writes Neil Wilby. Just a couple of days earlier, the sniping on theContinue reading “Legal letter stuns Party Leaders into silence”

Second investigation into ‘lying’ chief constable flounders

Retired murder detective, Peter Jackson, the country’s best known police whistle blower, has written to the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s office to point out that his complaints against the region’s chief constable, Ian Hopkins, are, once again, not being investigated properly.Under the applicable statutory framework, the Mayor is, ultimately, the Appropriate Authority who deals withContinue reading “Second investigation into ‘lying’ chief constable flounders”

Barton beats an unexpected retreat

Earlier this week Durham Constabulary announced the retirement of its chief constable, Mike Barton, both on social media and via a press release issued to local, regional and national media. The story attracted little attention, given the controversial figure he has frequently cut.But this announcement took many people by surprise, not least policing colleagues whomContinue reading “Barton beats an unexpected retreat”

The dreaded vote of confidence

“She has acted with the utmost integrity“. So says Greater Manchester’s high profile Mayor, Andy Burnham, as part of a limp vote of confidence in his under-siege deputy, Baroness Beverley Hughes. Except that she didn’t. The Burnham endorsement came as part of a blustery defence of the sly, duplicitous, incompetent handling of a serious complaintContinue reading “The dreaded vote of confidence”

Mystery of the ‘missing’ peer review

An important part of an investigative journalist’s armoury is the Freedom of Information Act, 2000. The essential principle being that public authorities, unless they can provide a good, and lawful, reason not to do so, must disclose information, upon request, by a member of the public. Or, indeed, a reporter chasing down an ‘exclusive’. ‘PublicContinue reading “Mystery of the ‘missing’ peer review”