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Chief constable of Greater Manchester police to retire Chief constable of Greater Manchester police to retire
(about 1 hour later)
One of the UK’s most senior police officers, Sir Peter Fahy, is to retire as chief constable of the Manchester force.One of the UK’s most senior police officers, Sir Peter Fahy, is to retire as chief constable of the Manchester force.
Fahy has been a police officer for more than three decades, including almost 13 years serving as the chief constable for both Greater Manchester and Cheshire. He will leave his £193,000-a-year post in October to take up a role as the chief executive of children’s charity Retrak.Fahy has been a police officer for more than three decades, including almost 13 years serving as the chief constable for both Greater Manchester and Cheshire. He will leave his £193,000-a-year post in October to take up a role as the chief executive of children’s charity Retrak.
In a statement Fahy said: “I have led the force through four years of budget cuts and staffing reductions but despite this, we have achieved significant improvements in service, increased public confidence and reduced crime and anti-social behaviour. In a statement Fahy said: “I have led the force through four years of budget cuts and staffing reductions but despite this, we have achieved significant improvements in service, increased public confidence and reduced crime and antisocial behaviour.
“It is now time for someone else to bring fresh ideas for what will be more challenging years ahead.”“It is now time for someone else to bring fresh ideas for what will be more challenging years ahead.”
Fahy, who grew up in east London and joined the police in 1981, was seen as a steadying hand for Greater Manchester police (GMP), the third largest force in England, and replaced former chief constable, Michael Todd, who was found dead on a mountainside in Wales in March 2008, after drinking alcohol and swallowing pills when his personal life unravelled amid claims of a string of extra-marital affairs. Fahy, who grew up in east London and joined the police in 1981, was seen as a steadying hand for Greater Manchester police (GMP), the third largest force in England, and replaced former chief constable, Michael Todd, who was found dead on a mountainside in Wales in March 2008, after drinking alcohol and swallowing pills when his personal life unravelled amid claims of a string of extramarital affairs.
Fahy, a married father-of-four who lives in Cheshire, has overseen huge cuts to police budgets and though crime rates have largely declined, the reduction in resources has not endeared him to some rank and file officers. Fahy, a married father-of-four who lives in Cheshire, has overseen huge cuts to police budgets and, though crime rates have largely declined, the reduction in resources has not endeared him to some rank and file officers.
He was thrust into the national spotlight in September 2012 when two of his officers, Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone, were murdered by on-the-run gangster Dale Cregan.He was thrust into the national spotlight in September 2012 when two of his officers, Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone, were murdered by on-the-run gangster Dale Cregan.
Related: Manchester's police chief adds to calls for change to widows' pensionsRelated: Manchester's police chief adds to calls for change to widows' pensions
Fahy’s tenure has not been without some criticism from outside the force. Last year a number of local MPs called for him to be suspended following an investigation by police watchdogs into a bungled surveillance operation of a suspected paedophile.Fahy’s tenure has not been without some criticism from outside the force. Last year a number of local MPs called for him to be suspended following an investigation by police watchdogs into a bungled surveillance operation of a suspected paedophile.
Simon Danczuk, MP for Rochdale and a leading campaigner to uncover historical child sex abuse, has raised concerns about the leadership of GMP in how it dealt with the investigation into Sir Cyril Smith and sexual grooming gangs.Simon Danczuk, MP for Rochdale and a leading campaigner to uncover historical child sex abuse, has raised concerns about the leadership of GMP in how it dealt with the investigation into Sir Cyril Smith and sexual grooming gangs.
Related: Manchester police chief Peter Fahy should be suspended, say local MPsRelated: Manchester police chief Peter Fahy should be suspended, say local MPs
Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester’s police and crime commissioner, praised Fahy for his “tireless commitment to public service”.Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester’s police and crime commissioner, praised Fahy for his “tireless commitment to public service”.
“During his seven years with GMP, Sir Peter has worked with me to implement fundamental changes to how Greater Manchester is policed, ensuring that we protect those that are most vulnerable whilst ensuring that all of our communities are safe from harm,” Lloyd said.“During his seven years with GMP, Sir Peter has worked with me to implement fundamental changes to how Greater Manchester is policed, ensuring that we protect those that are most vulnerable whilst ensuring that all of our communities are safe from harm,” Lloyd said.
“Sir Peter has been a great credit to both GMP and Greater Manchester and he leaves us in much better shape than when he arrived. He is held in the highest regard, not just by his colleagues in GMP, but across Greater Manchester and the country.”“Sir Peter has been a great credit to both GMP and Greater Manchester and he leaves us in much better shape than when he arrived. He is held in the highest regard, not just by his colleagues in GMP, but across Greater Manchester and the country.”
Fahy holds an honours degree in French and Spanish from the University of Hull and a Masters degree in human resource strategy from the University of East Anglia, and was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in January 2004 and a knighthood in June 2012. Fahy holds an honours degree in French and Spanish from the University of Hull and a Masters degree in human resource strategy from the University of East Anglia, and was awarded the Queen’s police medal in January 2004 and a knighthood in June 2012.
Prior to taking up his post with GMP in 2008, he worked in Surrey, Hertfordshire and West Midlands and served for five years as chief constable of Cheshire.Prior to taking up his post with GMP in 2008, he worked in Surrey, Hertfordshire and West Midlands and served for five years as chief constable of Cheshire.