Peter Fahy appointed new chief constable at GMP

The position of chief constable at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has been awarded to Peter Fahy, currently chief constable of Cheshire.

Mr Fahy has been chief constable at Cheshire for the past five years and has previously been unsuccessful in attempts to secure the post of chief constable at GMP. Mr Fahy was selected from four “exceptionally strong” candidates.

The appointment followed a two-day interview process conducted by a seven-strong Appointments Panel made up from members of Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA).

GMPA Chairman Paul Murphy, was on the panel that appointed Mr Fahy and said: “The GMP chief constable role is an extremely important one, not only on a local level but also a regional and national one.

“The panel members were unanimous in their decision.

“We’re convinced that, in a very, very strong field, Peter Fahy was the outstanding candidate.

“He’s very highly respected and we think that GMP, the second biggest police force and police authority in the country, needs a man like that – and Peter Fahy’s a very measured, very intelligent individual.”

In his previous application, Mr Fahy was overlooked in favour of his predecessor Mike Todd. Mr Todd died on Mount Snowdon last year after being reported missing. The inquest into his death continues, but suicide is being regarded as a possible cause due to revelations about his personal life and the high level of alcohol found in his blood at the time of death.

Speaking at a press conference that followed his appointment, Mr Fahy paid respects to his predecessor saying: “I would like to remember Mike Todd. I was a good friend and a close colleague of his, and a huge admirer of what he’d achieved in Greater Manchester. There’s a mixture of sadness in this appointment. But on the other hand, Mike has created a very, very firm foundation here in Greater Manchester for me now to build on.

“He is a hard act to follow. He was a remarkable police leader.

“Greater Manchester is a bigger challenge than Cheshire but I believe I have the profile and the record to do the job.”

Mr Fahy also spoke of areas he wished to address when taking up the post of chief constable.

“It’s a priority – it is for any police force – to protect people; it is about building on the success that Mike had with serious and organised crime, looking at concerns that the public have about telephoning the police and the sort of service they get there, and continuing to build on neighbourhood policing,” said Mr Fahy.

He also commented on the need to get more police officers on the beat to increase visibility.

“If you’re out there late at night there are plenty of police officers out there, because that is when our workload is,” said Mr Fahy. “I think [the challenge is] absolutely that we’ve got to spread that visibility throughout other times during the day, and that actually comes back to the debate around bureaucracy and red tape because too many police officers are spending their time in police stations when they should be out there – visible.

“So, you are absolutely right that it is a number one priority for the public and we’ve got to find ways of increasing that visibility.”

The shortlisted candidates for the post included Tim Hollis, chief constable at Humberside, Steve Finnigan, chief constable at Lancashire, and Meredydd Hughes, chief constable at South Yorkshire.

Mr Fahy is expected to take up his post at Greater Manchester no later than November 1. Acting Chief Constable David Whatton will continue to lead the force until Mr Fahy is in post. Mr Whatton will then resume the deputy chief constable position.

Cheshire Police Authority congratulated Mr Fahy on his new post. Peter Nurse, chairman of Cheshire Police Authority, said: “During his five years as chief constable in Cheshire, Peter Fahy has been very successful in developing the Constabulary and reducing crime levels, all of which has made a real difference to the people of Cheshire