Recommendation MAI-38: Improve GMP Major Incident record-making
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
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.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked Greater Manchester Police to review and improve major incident record-making. In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the force directs commanders and officers in key roles to record their actions, decisions, and rationale using body-worn video, digital encrypted dictaphones, or loggists on the Clio database (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It also stated that the force's major incident plan directs commanders to record evidential statements, and that a Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters review had concluded, with the work strand closed through multi-agency governance in September 2024 (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Earlier, the UK Government recorded the recommendation as accepted in full in November 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
About this summary
This recommendation asks for cultural or behavioural change, which is difficult to verify from published sources alone. The record reflects policy commitments rather than measured outcomes.
Government response
Accepted in full
Delivery
Cabinet Office says completed (27 February 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.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 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.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Published evidence
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Summary by this site of the published finding
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.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement