GMP unveils new and improved Android app

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has completely redesigned its Android app, making it easier to use and adding a number of new features.

The app allows the user to receive push notifications, alerting them to major incidents or urgent appeals, with the option to personalise their alerts to cover where they live and work.

It also provides information about the nearest police station and policing team, as well as details of appeals, wanted and missing people based on geolocation data.

Other features include a campaigns section where people can keep up to date with the latest campaigns and a list of local support centre addresses and contact details.

Improvements have been made to the existing ‘Around You’ map feature so now the user can filter what kind of nearby event or appeals they want to appear on the map.

The easy-to-use intelligence submission section also allows people to report non-urgent intelligence information anonymously via Crimestoppers.

More updates for the app are planned and users are being encouraged to contact GMP through Facebook or Twitter with their feedback on the latest version, as well as what they would like to see in future versions.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “I’m delighted with the new and improved app, which highlights our determination to keep up with technological developments and will help us provide an even better service to the people of Greater Manchester.

“It will allow us to engage with more people and keep the public updated with major incidents, as well as reducing the amount of time it takes for urgent appeals to be seen, which can make all the difference.”

Mr Hopkins added that the app will allow people to find out what is happening where they are and enable them to “pass vital information to the police anonymously”.

GMP’s iPhone app, which won the Innovation Award at the UK Social Media Communications Awards in 2014, was launched in January 2013 and has since been downloaded more than 30,000 times.

The updated Android app is available to download from the Google Play Store.