The Ethics Committee's work

One of the first major pieces of work carried out was into the ethical considerations of police officers using body-worn videos. Technological advances mean that police can now use affordable cameras which provide high-quality images and audio which can be used for evidential purposes. 

The committee considered the ethical dimensions of if, when and how these cameras should be used by police officers and police community support officers. As part of its research, the committee held focus groups with a range of community representatives and police. The committee published a report which summarised its findings and made 14 recommendations for GMP and the PCC's office to consider before deploying the technology widely. 

The research helped formulate GMP's policy on the use of the technology, which has now been issued to all frontline police officers. 

Body-work Video: A report by Greater Manchester's Independent Police Ethics Committee [June 2015] (PDF, 3.2 MB)

The committee reviewed the reasons for and range of pursuit tactics, including a case study highlighting the complexities and moral dilemmas that surround the decision-making process when it could ultimately result in a threat to life, be it for the person being pursued, an officer or a member of the public.

The committee also considered the risk that if a pursuit is not undertaken, resulting in an individual going on to commit an offence which endangers someone else.

The committee highlighted a lack of clear legislation governing pursuits and recognised the nuanced judgment required in making real-time decisions.

While GMP had engaged with Independent Advisory Groups (IAGs), members recommended further dialogue with emergency service partners, such as the Fire and Rescue Service, to gather further intelligence and broader perspectives.

Additionally, the Committee proposed that GMP undertake public engagement and education to improve understanding of the risks associated with pursuits and the rationale behind pursuit decisions.

Following the use of a dispersal order at the Manchester Christmas Markets in December 2024, the committee reviewed GMP’s use of Dispersal Orders. It found no evidence of excessive application compared to other forces. However, it recommended a more detailed review of potential disproportionality in their use across different districts and communities.

Members recommended the following:

• GMP look beyond the decision to issue an Order and review how Dispersal Orders are operationalised and implemented
• Involve Independent Advisory Groups (IAGs) to assess proposed use of Dispersal Orders where possible and evaluate retrospective use
• Examine bias at all levels and stages: by Commanders authorising their usage, through to supervision roles and individual officer conduct in their interactions with the public
• Undertake an evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of Dispersal Orders. This should address whether the rationale is sufficient (balancing intelligence with the impact on human rights and the impact on community relations) and whether the objectives of the Dispersal Order were effective and achieved the desired outcome
• Investigate root causes in areas with frequent use and explore alternative solutions

In summary, the committee were satisfied with the overview provided by GMP but agreed that GMP should undertake their own analysis to satisfy themselves that they had an effective and consistent approach to the use of this power.

The committee is committed to ensuring its insights are informed by a broad range of perspectives and does not rely solely on the views of senior GMP officers. Wherever possible, it seeks input directly from front-line staff when exploring ethical dilemmas.

As part of its review of the Right Care, Right Person initiative, committee members visited the Police Force Command Centre to observe the call-handling process first-hand and engaged directly with front-line officers to gain practical insights into its implementation.

In addition, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) operates an Internal Ethics Committee composed of officers and staff from across all departments and branches. This diverse group meets quarterly to discuss ethical dilemmas and provide thoughtful, informed perspectives on issues referred by colleagues, Chief Officers, or identified as current and relevant from an ethical standpoint.

All members of the committee serve on a voluntary basis, committing to attend four meetings per year and actively contribute to discussions. The committee’s role is to offer insight, pose critical questions, and support ethical decision-making across the organisation. It maintains a direct line to GMP’s senior leadership team, ensuring that its reflections and recommendations are considered at the highest level.

There is a formal link between GMP’s Internal Ethics Committee and the Greater Manchester Independent Ethics Committee. A standing agenda item allows the chair of GMP’s committee to provide updates on recent activity and facilitates the referral of ethical issues between the two bodies for broader consideration.

In 2023, the Internal Ethics Committee expanded its membership, with a renewed focus on developing members as ethics champions across the organisation. This initiative supports the wider embedding of the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics into everyday practice at GMP.