Replacement for GMP PoliceWorks system delayed for another 15 months

The long-delayed replacement for Greater Manchester Police’s IOPS system has been delayed again, after questions from Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani revealed that the new system has now been scheduled for April 2027.

In May 2022, the police announced that they were replacing the PoliceWorks part of the system, which was part of the problem when the force failed to record 80,000 crimes and was placed in special measures. In May 2024, the force then announced that the replacement was delayed, and would now be introduced in late 2025 or early 2026. 

Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who questioned the Greater Manchester Combined Authority about the delays after no update had been received in a year, said: “This is astonishing. 

“GMP spent £27 million on this system in the first place, and frankly it was awful. They have spent £1.6 million so far on replacing it, and that is going to be delivered – at best – around three years after it was supposed to be.”

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services issued a report in 2020 criticising the system, and after an extensive review, GMP announced they were scrapping it two years later. 

Sam Al-Hamdani continued: “This system’s failures have undoubtedly stopped crimes being solved, and as a result, left criminals out on the street who deserve to be in jail.

“We need a system that works for officers, and it needs to be delivered well and on time. It’s definitely not on time; we can only hope that the new system is a lot better than the old one.”