Andy Burnham’s role as Mayor of Greater Manchester comes with a responsibility that is often overlooked. As well as leading the city region, he also holds the powers previously exercised by the Police and Crime Commissioner. That means he is ultimately responsible for overseeing Greater Manchester Police (GMP), setting priorities and holding the force to account.

As with housing, Burnham’s record on policing is more complex than either supporters or critics sometimes admit.

The strongest criticism of Burnham’s policing record is that one of the biggest scandals in the history of GMP happened on his watch.

In 2020, inspectors placed GMP into special measures after finding the force had failed to record more than 80,000 crimes in a single year. Around one in five reported crimes, and one in four violent crimes, were not being properly recorded. Inspectors described the service being provided to victims as poor, and the Chief Constable resigned shortly afterwards.

This was not a minor administrative failure. If crimes are not recorded, victims may not receive support, offenders may not be investigated and policymakers may not have an accurate picture of crime levels.

Critics argue that this raises questions about oversight. Burnham became responsible for policing in 2017. By the time inspectors intervened in 2020, the force had been under his supervision for more than three years. While he was not responsible for day-to-day management, accountability is a central part of the Police and Crime Commissioner role.

Supporters of Burnham point to the difficult circumstances GMP faced. The force had experienced years of funding pressures and was dealing with major operational challenges. Burnham himself argued that the problems were serious and required urgent action.

The more interesting question is what happened next.

Following the appointment of Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson in 2021, GMP began a remarkable recovery. The force emerged from special measures in 2022 and has since been described by inspectors as one of the most improved police forces in England and Wales. Recent inspections found significant improvements in effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy.

Crime outcomes have also improved. GMP reports that recorded crime fell by around 30,000 offences in the year to December 2024, while arrests and solved crimes increased significantly. More recent figures suggest crime continued to fall in 2025, with reductions in burglary, robbery and knife crime.

Burnham deserves some credit for supporting the turnaround and backing new leadership. It would be unfair to discuss the force’s failures without acknowledging the progress that followed.

Yet the recovery also creates a challenge for Burnham’s broader political narrative.

When discussing housing, transport or policing, Burnham often argues that local leaders lack the powers and resources needed to solve problems. In policing, however, the evidence points in a different direction.

The biggest improvements at GMP came not from major constitutional reform or new powers from Westminster. They came after changes in leadership, management, crime recording, neighbourhood policing and operational priorities.

That does not mean funding is irrelevant. But it does suggest that organisational culture and leadership can matter just as much as structural reform.

This becomes important when considering Burnham’s national ambitions.

If he were to become Prime Minister, many of the arguments he uses about local power would become less relevant. The question would no longer be whether he had enough authority to act. It would be whether the policies he advocates can deliver better outcomes than those already achieved through improved local leadership.

The lesson from Greater Manchester may therefore be different from the one Burnham often presents. The force’s lowest point occurred while he held oversight responsibility. Its recovery happened under his watch too. Both facts are true.

For Liberal Democrats, the broader lesson is that effective public services require more than money or new powers. They require strong accountability, competent leadership and a willingness to challenge failing institutions before problems become crises.

Andy Burnham’s policing record shows both the risks of weak oversight and the benefits of determined reform. Whether that amounts to a success story or a missed opportunity will depend on which side of that balance voters find more convincing.

* Iain Donaldson is the treasurer of the Rochdale Liberal Democrats.