GREATER Manchester's new Chief Constable has vowed to tackle gun crime and booze-fuelled yobs as his priorities.

Peter Fahy, the current Chief Constable of Cheshire, was speaking after being appointed yesterday as Michael Todd's successor.

He has been outspoken on crime linked to alcohol after leading the investigation into Garry Newlove, who was murdered by a drunken mob in Warrington.

And he has already sparked a massive debate after he called for the legal drinking limit to be raised to 21 in the aftermath of the case.

Acknowledging the legacy left by Mr Todd - crime was slashed by ten per cent in one year - he also conceded that gun crime still blighted the region.

"Greater Manchester has a tremendous record against gun crime - something which the police authority has invested heavily in to tackle.

"There is still work to be done and there is no easy fix. It is important to work with local people trying to create relationships.

"We need more preventative action with young people showing them the dangers of getting involved with gangs and firearms.

"We have to try and reduce the disaffection that people feel with society which makes areas a breeding ground for getting involved with guns."

Commenting on Mr Todd, who was found dead on a Welsh mountainside in March, he said: "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."

Scrutiny

He said he was prepared for close scrutiny after the controversy which has surrounded Mr Todd and his death - an investigation is taking place to establish if Mr Todd's private life impacted on his duties as Chief Constable.

"Anybody in public office knows that goes with the territory. When you are a Chief Constable there is that spotlight and the highest standards of behaviour are expected of you. I have been used to that kind of scrutiny."

He also stressed that police officers spent too much time in stations doing paperwork when they needed to be visible on the street.

Taking a swipe at the manufacturers of alcohol he said: "Maybe it would be a good thing for bread and baked beans to be getting cheaper - rather than alcohol.

"A lot of men get aggressive when they get drunk. There needs to be a whole range of measures to deal with the issue. Market forces can be a very dangerous thing. We have a situation where three-litre bottles of cider are cheaper than water.

"When you have young people with problems in their lives and you make it easier and easier to get cheap alcohol you will get problems."

He believes there should be a nationwide ban on drinking in public and he has said licensed establishments like pubs should be the only place where alcohol is regularly consumed.

Mr Fahy believes those who price booze cheaply, promote it as glamorous, and parents who turn a blind eye to where their children are need to `rack their conscience and consider what duty they have to beat the scourge of anti-social behaviour by young people.'

But he defended Manchester council's decision to allow 200,000 Rangers fans - many under the influence of drink - to invade the city centre.

"It was a brave attempt by the council to bring the atmosphere that comes with a cup final to the city. It was a tragedy that a minority ruined it.

"My top priority is to protect people - building on the success that Michael has left in tackling serious and organised crime - building on neighbourhood policing."
Tweet