GMP Opens New State-of-the-Art Longsight Custody Suite Following Major Three-Year Redevelopment
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has officially unveiled its newly redeveloped Longsight custody suite, describing it as one of the most modern custody facilities in the country and a major milestone in the force’s ongoing improvement programme.
The facility, which has undergone a three-year redevelopment project, is set to officially open on Thursday 14th May 2026 and will become GMP’s largest custody site across Greater Manchester.
In a first for UK policing, the Longsight suite will introduce airport-style scanner technology, aimed at improving both safety and dignity for detainees and custody staff.
According to GMP, the redevelopment has been delivered on budget and forms part of wider efforts to modernise custody provision following significant scrutiny and reform recommendations in recent years.
The force says the new facility includes:
44 custody cells, more than doubling custody capacity within the city of Manchester
Dedicated areas for young detainees
Additional provisions for neurodivergent detainees
CCTV and phonelines installed in every cell
Improved building design, including skylights and increased natural lighting for staff wellbeing
The site will also trial remote first court hearings, allowing suspects to appear before court virtually from custody rather than being transported for initial hearings — something GMP says could help improve efficiency within the criminal justice system.
The redevelopment comes after GMP faced criticism and recommendations surrounding custody standards in previous years. In response, the force says it has worked to address all concerns raised by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in 2023, alongside implementing recommendations from Dame Vera Baird’s 2024 review into the treatment of detainees.
GMP says those reforms contributed to the force becoming the first in the country to stop welfare strip-searches and led to its custody team being named the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) ‘Custody Team of the Year’ in 2025.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson described the opening as a “major milestone” for the force.
“The opening of Longsight represents a major milestone in GMP’s journey to become the best police force for the people of Greater Manchester,” he said.
“It offers us more space to put suspects and keep the public safe, more safety for our staff and detainees, and a more modern and efficient facility to help GMP continue its improvements in custody provision.”
He added that arrests across Greater Manchester have more than doubled since 2021 due to increased proactive policing activity, leading to what GMP says are greater outcomes for victims and safer communities.
Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, Kate Green, also welcomed the opening, describing it as an important step towards ensuring custody is delivered “with dignity and respect.”
She praised the inclusion of dedicated support provisions for vulnerable detainees and highlighted the role of Greater Manchester’s Independent Custody Visitor Scheme, which recently received Gold Standard recognition for its monitoring of police custody conditions.
Longsight marks GMP’s second custody facility reopening since Chief Constable Watson took over leadership of the force in 2021, following the reopening of Bolton custody suite in April 2022.
The force says the new facility reflects its ambition to become a flagship police service for custody provision nationally.
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