A watchdog has issued a raft of recommendations after "alleged misuse of counterfeit goods" by GMP officers. An investigation which began more than two years ago also concluded that two officers had a case to answer for gross misconduct after a small amount of cannabis involved in a seizure "could not be accounted for" but they have both kept their jobs and been given "management advice".
As reported by the M.E.N, initially 23 officers were placed on restricted duties after the matter was first reported on November 15th 2019. Counterfeit clothing was allegedly worn by cops working covertly to blend in. The M.E.N understands that was one of the claims and that another element of the inquiry was that hooky clothing was donated to charities.
The force said today it accepted the findings of the investigation and that its policy regarding the seizing of counterfeit goods in 2019 was flawed. It said the issue had been "robustly" addressed.
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The probe centred on the Cheetham Hill district. As a result of the investigation, staff were moved to different stations and not allowed to work with the public or use computers. The M.E.N. understands the action has had an initial impact on the operational capability of two teams within the City of Manchester North District - the Cheetham Hill and Crumpsall Neighbourhood Team and the Intelligence Development team.
The timing of the inquiry came as police in the Cheetham Hill district were tackling a ferocious gun war between two gangs. As a result officers from outside the area had to be drafted in to replace the 23.
Now the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has issued a series of recommendations to improve the way GMP officers handle property seized during the course of their work.
Police and trading standards officers have repeatedly carried out raids on businesses in nearby Strangeways - dubbed the UK's 'counterfeit capital.' Fake clothing, perfume, bags, footwear, and accessories worth tens of millions of pounds have been seized.
The IOPC said it follows an investigation, which "looked at the conduct of 23 officers involved in the acquisition and alleged misuse of counterfeit goods during an operation in November 2019". This led to a further investigation into the acquisition, storage and alleged misuse of counterfeit goods involving a number of other officers.
After the second series of allegations were referred, the IOPC decided to manage the investigation itself to provide independent oversight over the matter. This investigation was finished in September 2021 and a final report was sent to GMP in December 2021, but it has taken another seven months before the findings were published today.
IOPC Regional Director Amanda Rowe said: “This was an extremely complex investigation, with multiple lines of inquiry which originally examined the conduct of 23 officers. “While no officer had a case to answer for misconduct in relation to the acquisition, storage and use of counterfeit clothing, we did identify individual performance issues and learning for officers and have recommended organisational learning for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in respect of its policies and procedures for handling property and managing exhibits.
"We found a lack of clarity for officers about how they should be handling and storing the items they had seized. There was no indication any had acted in breach of the relevant polices, although did identify a need for clearer guidance for officers.
"We recommended the force should also review and update its guidance, policies and procedures, relating to seized material and all property coming into police possession, whether counterfeit or otherwise, and ensure the updated guidance is readily available to officers.
"During the course of the investigation, a separate matter came to light concerning the actions of two individuals involved in the seizure of what was believed to be a small amount of cannabis, which could not be accounted for later, in the course of their duties in October. We found an officer and a PCSO had a case to answer for gross misconduct in relation to this incident.
"However, because their cases would have had to have been dealt with in different disciplinary tribunals, the evidence in respect of each was incapable of being dealt with in a way which was fair to both. As a result, we agreed both should receive management action in respect of allegations relating to the failure to comply with procedures around the management of property."
The IOPC made the following statutory recommendations to GMP:
- GMP should review and update force guidance, policies and procedures, relating to operations that are intended to target the unlawful supply of counterfeit goods and ensure guidance on seizure, retention and disposal of material is up to date, clear and readily available to all officers.
- GMP should consider training for officers involved in operations that are intended to target the unlawful supply of counterfeit goods, to ensure that they are familiar with the legal powers available to them and the force guidance, policies and procedures.
- GMP should review and update force guidance, policies and procedures, relating to seized material brought into police possession and then used for a policing purpose.
- GMP should review and update force guidance, policies and procedures, relating to all property coming into police possession, whether counterfeit or otherwise and ensure guidance on seizure, retention and disposal of the material is up to date, clear and readily available to all officers.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said: “We accept the findings of the IOPC and have robustly addressed our policy regarding the seizing of counterfeit items which – we acknowledge – was not sufficient at the time of this issue coming to light in November 2019.
“Despite no officers ultimately having a case to answer, it was right of us to refer this to the IOPC so that it could be objectively investigated, and to allow the independent findings to be implemented in our written policies and procedures so that all our officers receive the necessary guidance in this area going forwards.
“We have ensured the policing of north Manchester – and particularly the Cheetham Hill area - has been largely unaffected by the procedures we have needed to follow throughout this period, with a renewed neighbourhood team being quickly instated with a continued commitment to serve the local community.
“Gun crime has drastically reduced in this part of the city, issues around drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour continue to be actively tackled, and we are working harder than ever with our partners to rigorously root out the scourge of counterfeit trading in our city as part of our ongoing pledge to act on the public’s priorities.”
