Improve GMP Major Incident record-making
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · Issued 3 November 2022 · Addressed to: Greater Manchester Police
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
Greater Manchester Police should reflect on its approach to record-making during and immediately following a Major Incident, with a view to improving the current practice.
Manchester Arena Inquiry, Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · 3 Nov 2022 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- CTPHQ completed a review of Volume 2 recommendations in June 2023, which was closed via Multi-Agency Governance in September 2024 (Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, Cabinet Office, February 2026).
- GMP stated that officers in key roles are directed to record their actions, decisions and rationale using Body Worn Video or Digital Encrypted Dictaphones, and commanders use a loggist to record information on the CLIO database (Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, Cabinet Office, February 2026).
Response — verbatim from government
●UK Government
The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to implement improvements. The response committed to reviewing interoperability arrangements between emergency services and strengthening joint training and exercising protocols for major incidents.
UK Government · 3 Nov 2022 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 27 Feb 2026 CTPHQ/Plato Recommendation Review In June 2023, CTPHQ commenced a proactive and supplementary review of Volume 2 recommendations. This review enabled formal monitoring of developments around specific recommendations owned within other business areas or work strands, to take into account any interdependencies whilst ensuring CTPHQ guidance and process was updated appropriately if required. This review is now complete. This work strand has been closed via Multi-Agency Governance September 2024. GMP has taken a pragmatic approach to record making during a Major Incident as there is no single national position. Officers in key roles, including Commanders are directed to record their actions, decisions and rationale using Body Worn Video or Digital Encrypted Dictaphones. Commanders also use a loggist to record this information on the Clio database. GMP's Major Incident Plan directs Commanders to record an evidential statement subject to caveats such as Post Incident Procedures or where there is an IOPC or Professional Standards Branch Investigation. Source →
- 14 Nov 2025 CTPHQ/Plato Recommendation Review In June 2023, CTPHQ commenced a proactive and supplementary review of Volume 2 recommendations. This review enabled formal monitoring of developments around specific recommendations owned within other business areas or work strands, to take into account any interdependencies whilst ensuring CTPHQ guidance and process was updated appropriately if required. This review is now complete. This work strand has been closed via Multi-Agency Governance September 2024. GMP has taken a pragmatic approach to record making during a Major Incident as there is no single national position. Officers in key roles, including Commanders are directed to record their actions, decisions and rationale using Body Worn Video or Digital Encrypted Dictaphones. Commanders also use a loggist to record this information on the Clio database. GMP's Major Incident Plan directs Commanders to record an evidential statement subject to caveats such as Post Incident Procedures or where there is an IOPC or Professional Standards Branch Investigation. Source →
- 14 Nov 2025 · Cabinet Office Government published formal Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations dashboard on GOV.UK (14 November 2025) tracking all 149 recommendations with implementation progress updates. View source → Reasonable Progress
- 3 Apr 2025 · UK Parliament Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent 3 April 2025. Creates two tiers: Standard Duty (200-799 capacity) and Enhanced Duty (800+). SIA will be regulator. Not yet in force -- at least 24 months before enforcement (expected April 2027). View source → Reasonable Progress
- 1 Apr 2024 · JESIP JESIP Joint Doctrine updated to v3.1 (April 2024) following inquiry findings on interoperability failures. Operation Plato reformed to cover all terrorist attack types, not just firearms. Emphasis extended beyond command-level to frontline responders. View source → Good Progress
- 5 Jun 2023 · National Police Chiefs Council NPCC, Counter Terrorism Policing and College of Policing provided comprehensive updates to Sir John Saunders demonstrating "continued drive to improve collective response to terrorist incidents." View source → Reasonable Progress
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.