GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson has split opinion after calling for officers to stop 'virtue-signalling' on social media. In an interview with The Times, Mr Watson said his officers should 'get on with being the police because that's what you are paid for'.
Mr Watson, who replaced Ian Hopkins as GMP's Chief Constable in May 2021 after the crisis-hit force was placed in special measures in December 2020, said: "Using social media, in these very contested times, requires a particular skill. And it’s a skill that we do not have. So for the most part, regardless of our intentions, we tend to use social media badly."
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He added: "And actually, reaching out to communities is all too often perceived as virtue signalling. And, candidly, in some cases it is virtue signalling."
The Chief Constable, who is regarded as a 'old school cop' after banning officers from having tattoos visible while on duty, said: "The public genuinely don’t care what I have for breakfast, or what my opinions are on contemporary social issues. I think that we are better served by dishing up to the public the things that they have every right to expect of us.
"And to just do that constantly, consistently, and to the exclusion of pretty much everything else"
Hs stance has divided opinion among Manchester Evening News readers.
Writing on the M.E.N. Facebook page Lucy Boo said: "This is exactly why GMP lost a good chunk of confidence from the public. I would rather have a an officer that’s good at their job regardless of visible tattoos, and the way to regain trust, clarity and a connection with your public is social media these days!
"If the public can see post after post of people getting arrested and stolen property being returned, it will restore faith faster than a non tattooed officer showing up 4hrs later to a 999 call."
Eddie Bianco posted: "Do the public want to know what the police in their local area are doing? I do. I like the engagement via social media, too. It takes a matter of minutes to produce, so time wasting isn't the issue.
"It sounds to me like the CC of GMP is doing his own brand of virtue signalling, just to the gammon class.
Babs Griffiths: "I for one appreciate it! So sir, you get real and move with the times!"
Many others applauded his position. Garry Lyle said: "Well said, just the Chief Con we needed for years."
Eric Stamp wrote: "About flipping time bragging on Twitter or Facebook of seizing a e-scooter doesn’t end well."
And Simon Bell said: "About bloody time."
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