Chief Constable Stephen Watson has made riot training compulsory for all GMP cops. It follows an exodus of officers who were 'public order' trained.
Officers were increasingly reluctant to take the basic four-day training course because it meant that they were more likely to be called into action to deal with events such as protests on their rest days.
The new chief constable, installed in June last year, has insisted the force would be able to cope with a riot and he has now decided to make public order training compulsory, so all cops will be available in case of any civil disturbance.
