Superintendent Chris Foster is a busy man. As Greater Manchester Police’s lead for burglary his work feeds into the new neighbourhood model. That model - said to be the biggest change in a generation - will see 264 police officers posted to neighbourhood teams in the hope of better tackling crimes like burglary, drug dealing and car theft.
Supt Foster moved to GMP two years ago from South Yorkshire Police - the force his boss, Chief Constable Stephen Watson, was credited with turning around. He’s worn a number of hats since, but consistent has been his role as force lead for burglary. And he says things are looking up.
In the 12 months to February 2023, officers solved 68.7 per cent more residential burglaries than in the previous year. In that time, the number of people arrested on suspicion of burglary in Greater Manchester rose by 42.1 per cent. And in the same period, the force recorded 688 fewer residential burglaries.
