Current timestamp: 13/07/2025 03:14:38
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal Activity[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-location' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Leave this site

Cookies

We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.

You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.

Accept cookies Reject cookies Customise cookies

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

Greater Manchester Police crest

  • Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Spiking
    • Stalking or harassment
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
    • Hate crime
  • Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
  • Back to Apply or register

    • Careers and volunteering
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Back to Request

    • Compensation for something the police have done
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
    • Request an update
  • Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Feedback about the website
    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
  • Your area
  1. ...
  2. News

Former officers return to Greater Manchester Police to bring valuable experience

Main article content

News
Published: 11:55 13/02/2023

More than 30 former officers are to rejoin Greater Manchester Police in the latest recruitment drive.

A group of 15 with a combined service of more than 400 years were re-attested at Force Headquarters on 10 February 2023.

The group was made up of nine PCs, five sergeants and a detective chief inspector with previous experience including CID, firearms, child protection and roads policing.

Chief Superintendent Niall Hayden-Pawson, of GMP’s Police Uplift Programme, said: “The returning officers have a wide range of skills that are exactly what GMP is looking for.

“We have officers and uniformed sergeants returning to frontline duties in our districts including City of Manchester, Rochdale, Salford and Trafford, as well officers working in a number of different force areas including custody, special operations, firearms and response roles.

“Some of them have really missed working at GMP and wanted to come back to work for us again.

“They will now undergo a three-week training course, which is a lot shorter than the 19 weeks that new student officers undergo.

“That means the process is cost-effective as we have already invested previously in these people, plus it assists us with the uplift in numbers that the chief constable has promised as part of his Plan on a Page.”

The new officers took The Oath at Force Headquarters on 10 February 2023 in the presence of magistrate Barry Frost.

In total, 33 officers are coming back to GMP this year through the re-engagement scheme advertised in September last year to fill a variety of roles with two more groups due to be attested in March.

One returning officer is Detective Chief Inspector Lee Hopwood, who spent almost 30 years at GMP in Rochdale and Oldham, and last worked in counter-terrorism.

He will be taking up a new role in GMP’s Investigations Inspection Team to work in the background and advise on ongoing investigations.

DCI Hopwood, 52, who originally joined the force in 1992, said: “I spent 29-and-a-half years at GMP and wasn’t really ready to go, and I returned within a month as a civilian to teach student detectives.

“I did that for a year but when I saw the opportunity to return to the force, I jumped at it.

“All of the returning officers bring a huge amount of experience, experience that would be lost otherwise.”

Share

Footer navigation

Greater Manchester Police

  • Contact us
  • Find a police station
  • News
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Feedback

Partners

  • Partner services
  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police
  • The Mayor of Greater Manchester
  • Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Follow us on

© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.