Ian Hopkins

Ian Hopkins is a former senior British police officer. From October 2015 to December 2020, he was the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police.

Career Hopkins joined Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in April 2008 on promotion to assistant chief constable. He started his career in Staffordshire Police in 1989 and has served in Northamptonshire Police and Cheshire Police.

Deputy Chief Constable He was appointed Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police in December 2011 with responsibility for force performance, the Force Change Programme and corporate communications.

His GMP career was soon subject of censure: in 2013 he was formally advised regarding his conduct when he took his family to watch a Coldplay concert at the Etihad stadium on 9 June, paying for five £55 tickets out of his own pocket. When he turned up for the gig, his party was invited to sit in empty corporate seats, The Hopkins party also accepted tea, coffee and Lancashire Hotpot valued at £25.

Originally, the officer’s entry on the register of hospitality and gifts stated the gig had been at the Manchester Arena, that he had only received food and drink worth £5 and failed to reflect how his party had been bumped up to a corporate section. The Investigation discovered that on a separate occasion, Mr Hopkins bought four tickets at £50 each to attend a Take That concert at the Etihad stadium on 7 June 2011. His party accepted soft drinks, tea, coffee and a glass of wine valued at £100. The officer’s original entry had failed to reflect his party had again been moved to corporate seats. Controversy soon followed his appointment. On 16 May 2016, Hopkins had been present at a party for Senior Women In Policing when ACC Rebekah Sutcliffe verbally attacked a junior colleague, Superintendent Sarah Jackson. An argument ensued between the two about surgically enhanced breasts. Hopkins had recognised Sutcliffe was drunk and had texted Jackson to look after her before leaving the subordinate alone to face a verbal attack by Sutcliffe. Sarah Jackson left GMP shortly after the incident for Cumbria and was promoted.

Police cuts Hopkins is concerned that cuts to police funding will reduce the effectiveness of the Greater Manchester Police. Hopkins maintains he had hoped for 6300 officers by March 2021 but now expects only 5709 officers, which is fewer than there were in 1975. Hopkins stated: The perception by Hopkins that GMP would struggle to cope led him to launch the "Citizens Contract" which sought to explain a reduced Police Offer. However, this was later described as "Complete Tosh" and "Patronising nonsense" by Hopkins replacement Chief Constable Steve Watson.

End of Police career Hopkins's career was brought to an end when he was forced to stand down in 2020. GMP had undergone a HMICFRS inspection that had found they had failed to record 80,000 crimes, he initially sought to indicate he had voluntarily stepped aside, but it soon emerged that he had been required to leave office by Andy Burnham Mayor for Greater Manchester.

Further details emerged that even though he had been removed he had continued to claim his salary.

Honours Hopkins was awarded the Queen's Police Medal for distinguished service in the 2016 Birthday Honours.

Failure to be awarded a knighthood GMP's Chief Constables have traditionally been awarded knighthoods for their leadership. This does not include the first Chief Constable, James William Richards, who only served a brief period upon GMP's amalgamation or Michael Todd, who died suddenly while still serving ). Apart from these, every other Chief Constable has been knighted. Sir James Anderton was knighted in 1990, Sir David Wilmott in 2002 and Sir Peter Fahy in 2012.