Key Points
- Greater Manchester Police has been awarded Level 1 status in the Police Performance System, the highest ranking in the new national framework.
- The Police Performance System is a joint approach between the policing sector and government designed to assess, support and improve police performance across England and Wales.
- The system was introduced in April 2026.
- GMP had been placed in special measures five years ago, making the latest ranking a significant turnaround in its recent performance history.
- The story is likely to matter most to residents across Greater Manchester, police staff, local policymakers, victims’ groups and the wider policing sector.
Manchester (Manchester Mirror) July 2026. Greater uk/police/">Manchester Police has been assigned Level 1 status in the Police Performance System, the highest-performing ranking in the new framework introduced in April this year. As reported in the source material, the force had been in special measures five years ago, making the new rating a notable change in its standing within the policing system. The ranking places GMP at the top tier of the joint system used by the policing sector and government to assess, support and improve police performance across England and Wales.
Why does the ranking matter?
The Level 1 status matters because it signals that the force is now being recognised as a high performer within a new national system rather than as an organisation needing exceptional intervention. The Police Performance System was set up to give a common approach to measuring how forces are doing, while also helping them improve where needed. For GMP, the rating suggests a major improvement in how the force is viewed after a period in which it was under special measures.
How does the new system work?
The Police Performance System is a joint approach between policing and government, and it began in April 2026. Its purpose is not just to judge performance, but also to support improvement across forces in England and Wales. That means the ranking is part of a broader effort to standardise oversight, highlight strengths, and identify areas where police services need further development. GMP’s Level 1 position indicates that, under that framework, it is now considered one of the strongest performers.
What is the wider context?
The fact that GMP was in special measures five years ago gives the announcement added significance. Special measures are usually associated with a force facing serious concerns, so moving to the top ranking in a new performance system marks a substantial shift in status. In reporting terms, this is a story about institutional change: a force once under intense scrutiny has now reached the highest level in a newly introduced national assessment model. The timeline also matters, because the system itself is new and only began operating in April this year.
Why is this being closely watched?
This development is likely to be watched by other police forces because it gives an early example of how the new ranking system is being applied. It also matters to communities in Greater Manchester, where public confidence in policing can be shaped by such announcements. For the force itself, the ranking can influence how its work is discussed in public, by elected officials and within policing circles. In that sense, the level assigned is not only symbolic, but also politically and operationally important.
What should readers take from it?
For readers, the main point is that GMP has moved from a position of special oversight to the highest level in a new national performance framework. The announcement suggests progress in performance, governance or both, although the source material provided does not list the exact indicators behind the ranking. The story therefore centres on improvement, accountability and the launch of a new system designed to shape policing standards across England and Wales. The significance lies as much in the comparison with GMP’s previous position as in the ranking itself.
Background on the development
Greater Manchester Police has been the subject of scrutiny in recent years, which is why this award is being framed as an important milestone. The introduction of the Police Performance System in April 2026 gave policing and government a new shared method for judging and supporting forces, and GMP’s Level 1 status is one of the earliest major outcomes to emerge from it. In simple terms, the development shows how a force can be reassessed within a new national structure after years of concern. That background is central to understanding why the ranking has attracted attention.
Prediction for audiences
For people in Greater Manchester, the development may raise expectations that policing standards, public confidence and internal accountability will continue to improve. For officers and staff, the Level 1 status may create pressure to maintain the ranking and demonstrate that the improvement is lasting rather than temporary. For other police forces in England and Wales, the decision may act as an early benchmark for what the new system can produce when applied consistently. The broader effect is likely to be a stronger focus on measurable performance across the policing sector.
