A NEW chief has taken over policing in Manchester city centre.
Chief Superintendent Caroline Ball, who comes from the divisional commander post in Oldham, took up the job at Bootle Street last week and is overseeing a team of almost 1,000 officers.
The married mum-of-two, from Tameside, who has experience in plain clothes and uniform branches across the force, said: “The city centre is the front-facing part of my division and I see it as dynamic and challenging. We face big challenges like drink-related crime and keeping the growing community here safe and it's really important to me that we keep up momentum on all the initiatives going on and the close working relationship with the council.
“Out in the neighbourhoods, we have other issues such as anti-social behaviour, keeping the community engaged and gaining their confidence which are equally important and a different challenge again. There are a lot of high profile events to contend with and I think there's quite a professional set-up here already. I want to maintain and build on that.”
Chief Supt Ball replaces Gerry Donnellan, who managed UEFA cup final night, the English Defence League protest and a series of high profile terror arrests during his three years as commander of GMP's north Manchester division.
The division, which covers parts of east and north Manchester as well as the city centre, saw a 14 per cent drop in crime under Chief Supt Donnellan - who has moved to a new headquarters role which involves overseeing the force's burglary operation.
Rewarding
He cited the policing operation around the
EDL protests in Piccadilly Gardens last October as a career highlight, adding: “I have a detective's background and have done some big jobs, including working abroad on kidnappings, but I can honestly say that was the most rewarding day in terms of the challenge and arrests.
“During my time in the city centre, I have seen a real move to all agencies working together and the change in licensing laws brought a 24-hour night time economy which has been challenging. And of course there was UEFA night, which I'll never forget.
“The division has a bunch of humble and gracious cops and I am leaving with many memories and a sense of pride for what we have achieved during my time here.”
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Showing comments 1 to 19 and replies | View All
canonball, inside the helmet (09/02/2010 at 08:24)
jordy, Middleton (09/02/2010 at 08:31)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (09/02/2010 at 08:34)
tiggerluc, somewhere in shaw (09/02/2010 at 08:53)
Marquis de Sade et la petit monge tout (09/02/2010 at 09:48)
Audenshaw Bob (09/02/2010 at 09:49)
If you don't clamp down on the small things, what chance the big things? I said to one charming young lady 'are you just going to leave that empty lamrusco bottle there' and the response 'who the **** are you?' and a volley of abuse that would make a soldier blush.
Not bad at 10.30am eh? Britain has a talent for something!
Mark,Radcliffe. (09/02/2010 at 09:51)
Panzer 391, Salford (09/02/2010 at 10:15)
Laura Norder, Didsbury (09/02/2010 at 11:05)
If you don't clamp down on the small things, what chance the big things? I said to one charming young lady 'are you just going to leave that empty lamrusco bottle there' and the response 'who the **** are you?' and a volley of abuse that would make a soldier blush.
Not bad at 10.30am eh? Britain has a talent for something!" - Audenshaw Bob, .
...and they were all Rangers' fans, eh, Bob?
Audenshaw Bob (09/02/2010 at 11:15)
They were allowed to raoam anywhere, booze in hand, alsorts of illegal stuff going on. There was lawlessness in town that day. The follwoing weekend the wife and I had a sandwich and a bottle of pomagne in John Street Gardens only to have is confiscated as it was against the law to drink in public!
You aren't going to front up in front of the wife so I just bit my tongue. I am still intransdencent with rage now.
Laura Norder, Didsbury (09/02/2010 at 11:37)
They were allowed to raoam anywhere, booze in hand, alsorts of illegal stuff going on. There was lawlessness in town that day. The follwoing weekend the wife and I had a sandwich and a bottle of pomagne in John Street Gardens only to have is confiscated as it was against the law to drink in public!
You aren't going to front up in front of the wife so I just bit my tongue. I am still intransdencent with rage now." - Audenshaw Bob, .
Yes, I've not forgotten your posts, and remember how peeved you claimed you were. And, as a Rangers supporter, I felt deeply for you in your despair, as drunkenness and rowdiness have never been features in city centre Manchester - no, not even at weekends.
In fact, I can tell you are still so mad, you've taken to making up your own 'outraged' retorts, so please clarify: what exactly does 'intransdencent ' mean?
As an aside, can you tell me where you intend to be next Friday as, you seem to appear everywhere where over-indulgence takes place - and I may wish to avoid it.
Thanks.
Audenshaw Bob (09/02/2010 at 11:51)
I'll be at the Firbank and The Happy Man in Wythenshawe then into Brannigans in town for birds.
Count Arthur Strong, Hulme (09/02/2010 at 12:03)
Mark,Radcliffe. (09/02/2010 at 12:48)
Concerned Mancunian, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 14:43)
Count Arthur Strong, Hulme (09/02/2010 at 17:47)
I think you get my point though my friend.
Stickman, Bury (10/02/2010 at 00:21)
Audenshaw Bob (10/02/2010 at 13:11)
I was brought up that the law is the law and to respect police but if it is now OK to break laws and they will turn a blind eye then let's here about it because I wouldn't mind getting leathered on the pavement myself.
Simishine, Manchester (10/02/2010 at 19:43)