IAG's

• Do you want to have your say?
• Do you want to learn about and see how the police are using their powers?
• Do you want to give us your opinion about how we are doing?

From Friday 1 April 2022, Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) recruitment campaign for volunteers to join our Independent Advisory Groups (IAG) will be launched.

What is an IAG?

Introduced in response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report in 1999, IAGs advise and challenge GMP on its policies, procedures and practices. Initially the groups focussed on the subject of race, but now have expanded to offer opinions, advice and ideas on a wide range of activities and issues relating to local policing.  

The main role of an IAG is to act as a 'critical friend' to the police.  Unlike other, more formal, groups that advise the police such as scrutiny panels, IAGs do not offer expert or specialist advice but instead, they recommend how policing services may be, or are being, perceived by communities and how they can be improved.

Although an IAG member does not represent a community as a whole, they are able to bring their own personal experiences and perspectives to the group.

Who can become an IAG member?

IAG members are members of the public, who have an interest in policing and the effects it had on the community, who can express independent views to ensure that the service that GMP provides is effectively meeting the diverse needs of the communities it serves.

Why are IAGs important?

His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) acknowledges that to have Independent Advisory Groups is good practice:

“HMICFRS commends them (advisory groups) as a positive step in improving accountability through a transparent approach.”

GMP is committed to continuing to do all it can to achieve equality and increase transparency with all communities across GM. Recruiting more volunteers to our IAGs will allow us to strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the Force.

While these groups allow local people to advise on policing matters, it also allows GMP the opportunity to speak directly to the residents in our local area and get to the heart of the issues affecting that community.

As a Force, we strive to learn how we can build better relationships with our communities, particularly those who have been shown to be disproportionately affected by the use of police powers. We know that in some cases, these people may feel that they are less likely to be heard, not given opportunities to succeed and possibly even feel targeted by police.  We want to assure those people that your voice will be heard and one way we are striving to do this is through our IAGs, but this is only of part of the jigsaw of the Force’s wider community engagement.

Apply to join an IAG

Please apply for an information and application pack at [email protected].

If you require an accessible version of the application pack, please contact PC Dave Willetts at [email protected] to receive a copy in the appropriate format.