GREATER Manchester is to get nearly 600 more police over the next three years.GMP will get 588 officers, the highest number of any force outside London and 210 more than originally expected. There are around 6,800 officers in GMP and numbers will rise in this financial year by 186, the following year by 201, and in 2002/03 by another 201.Assistant Chief Constable Alan Bridge said today: "We welcome the announcement and pledge to meet the challenging target of recruiting nearly 600 new officers."We are pleased the Home Office has recognised the requirements of policing in Manchester and has funded the recruitment of the second largest number of officers outside London. We are very interested in quality people from the Greater Manchester community and I would welcome their interest in a police career."Kath Robinson, deputy leader of Manchester City Council and its spokeswoman on crime and disorder, added: "We are very pleased we have been given this allocation. We know that Manchester has special circumstances, for instance, large numbers of visitors to the city, which mean we do need extra personnel." Announcing the details today, Home Office Minister Barbara Roche said: "Forces across England and Wales have now been given an unexpected boost to their existing and already enhanced recruitment plans. In return the government and the public will want to see results - reduction in crime, with more offenders being brought to justice."Lancashire will get 226 more officers, Cheshire 147 and Derbyshire 158.
