TRAFFORD'S chief of police wants officers in the borough to take it back to basics and to get back on the front foot in the New Year.

Chief Superintendent Colette Rose told The Messenger she is sad to see the force at which she has spent 25 years in special measures.

In her role since September, she is now at the forefront of GMP's push to restore trust in the police.

Chief Supt Rose said: "It's sad to see where GMP is and the headlines around it over the last year and beyond.

"Most of the officers are doing their best. They just need some clearer leadership and a clearer plan.

"That's the journey we're on. I'm pleased to be a part of it and and to be on the journey in Trafford."

Chief Supt Rose has a strong connection to Trafford. Her father was raised in Stretford, and she attended Loreto Grammar School in Altrincham and Sale Swimming Club as a child.

An accredited public order commander, she has also overseen some of the borough's biggest events including One Love Manchester, which she describes as a highlight of her career.

Relative to Oldham, where she spent the last two years before becoming Chief Superintendent, she sees the challenges in Trafford as similar in some areas, but unique in other areas.

Chief Supt Rose said: "Oldham has a number of deprived areas, but Trafford also has deprived areas. People look at Trafford and see the more affluent areas, but those more affluent areas bring in different types of criminality.

"The other thing in Trafford is its infrastructure. There's the Trafford Centre, Manchester United, Lancashire Cricket Club.

"It's a transient community. People come, spend time and then leave, but it's still important we make these people feel safe."

Making people feel safe around the police is a particular challenge at the moment in light of national news stories like the murder of Sarah Everard and international news stories like Black Lives Matter.

But it is a challenge Chief Supt Rose is in no mood to avoid.

She said: "Policing is a unique profession in terms of the values people expect of our officers. When one person breaks those values or does something as abhorrent as Wayne Couzens, it doesn't affect the Metropolitan Police or the people he worked with, it affects every officer across the UK and probably beyond.

"There are bad people in every profession. Unfortunately, some of them become officers and abuse their position. That affects all the good work we're doing, and we're doing tons of good work."

Ultimately, Chief Supt Rose thinks the solution is a simple one.

She said: "It's about getting back to basics. It's the simple things – picking up the phone, answering it in a timely manner, being polite and professional and then investigating things.

"Officers feel downtrodden, but it's because there's not been a clear message. We've been jack of all trades and master of none. We need to understand what our trade is and deliver it."