Heatwave strains Greater Manchester police as calls surge to record levels

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is under immense strain as hot weather drives a surge in emergency calls and incidents, pushing resources to their limits. The force recorded a historic 152,000 public contacts in July-the highest monthly figure ever-amid a heatwave that has persisted into August. Officers report heightened demand for policing, with calls ranging from antisocial behaviour to wildfire risks and mental health emergencies. ## Record call volumes and operational challenges The National Police Chiefs’ Council data shows an 11.5% year-on-year increase in emergency call volumes across UK forces, including British Transport Police and Police Scotland. Online reports via the Single Online Home platform also rose by 10%. In Greater Manchester, officers responded to 14,991 grade 1 emergencies (immediate threats) in July, with an average response time of seven minutes and 54 seconds, and 10,266 grade 2 incidents (serious but not immediate danger), averaging one hour and two minutes. Tameside’s neighbourhood chief inspector, James Grundy, attributes the surge to heatwave conditions, which encourage outdoor activities, alcohol consumption, and risky behaviour near water bodies. "People are outside more, leading to more incidents," he said. "We prioritise based on threat, harm, and risk, but some calls don’t get the response they deserve." ## Frontline officers stretched thin PC Daniel Bragg, a Tameside response officer with seven years of service, described the summer as the busiest of his career, rivaling even New Year’s Eve. "With the World Cup and hot weather, it’s non-stop," he said. "We’ve seen more drink-driving crashes, heat-related deaths among the elderly, and a spike in domestic incidents and mental health crises." Bragg noted that officers now handle up to 40 calls per night shift-double or quadruple the usual workload-leaving little time between emergencies. Tameside district superintendent Arif Nawaz confirmed a significant rise in incidents compared to last year, with 572 additional grade 2 and 272 more grade 1 calls over three months. "That’s seven extra high-priority incidents daily," he said. "Manchester’s growth, like the new Co-op Arena, adds to policing demands, but we’re adapting." ## Long-term concerns amid climate change Officers warn that sustained hot summers could overwhelm current staffing levels. "If this continues, we’ll need more resources," Bragg said. Nawaz echoed these concerns, calling the heatwaves "a serious issue for society and policing." While the government is assessing responses, Nawaz stressed the need for proactive planning. "We’re thinking about how to prepare," he said, as the force balances public safety with limited resources.