The Labour mayor of Manchester has been accused of playing politics over a review into how woman and girls are held in custody.
The review was commissioned last summer following a Sky News report into the experiences of three women being held in custody by Greater Manchester Police (GMP). It is being led by Dame Vera Baird KC and was scheduled for release last autumn. When further complainants came forward, its publication was initially delayed to consider these new complaints.
In January this year a commitment was made by the mayor’s office to release the report ‘by the end of this mayoral term’ and confirmed that the Baird Review had completed its investigations. However, a statement issued on 9 February by the mayor’s office has confirmed that it will now not be published until the summer.
Slamming the Mayor over his decision, Dan Barker, the Conservative Candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor, said:
“This is another example of Andy Burnham and Labour trying to dodge legitimate democratic scrutiny.
“As Mayor police are under his remit, but his record on policing has been atrocious. GMP has been in and out of special measures, we are on our third Chief Constable and the crime rate is at a seven year high. There have been eyewatering increases in serious crime since Andy Burnham was elected with violent offences up 73%, sexual offences up 45%, drug offences up 197% and possession of weapons up 129%. Under this Labour Mayor serious crime and criminals have prospered and flourished.
“We owe it to vulnerable women and girls to publish this report without further unnecessary delay. Residents in Greater Manchester will be voting to decide who will be their mayor for the next four years on Thursday 2nd May – what has Mr Burnham got to hide by delaying the publication of this report?
“The people of Greater Manchester deserve much more transparency and accountability over Police and Crime.”
Dan added that if elected Mayor, one of his first priorities would be to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour across Greater Manchester and restore trust in Greater Manchester Police.