Bury North MP James Daly has put the performance of the UK's largest police force under the spotlight, questioning how it can be improved after being put into "special measures". 

The Metropolitan Police, which handles crime in London, is in "special measures" following a series of failures and extensive criticism surrounding the death of Sarah Everard, who was murdered by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens in March last year.

The decision was made after an inspection by watchdog, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

In the House of Commons, Mr Daly asked "what lessons can be learnt" so the force do not repeat the same mistakes.

His call comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was placed into "special measures" in December 2020 after it was revealed that around 80,000 crimes had not been recorded and the way victims were supported was a “serious cause of concern”. 

In the House of Commons on Thursday, Mr Daly said: “In 2020, GMP were put into special measures in part due to a lack of accountability and scrutiny and importantly as has been highlighted here today (Thursday), a lack of care and services towards the victims of crime.

“Steps have been taken since then to address this situation, what lessons can be learnt to help and assist the Met Police to get out of this appalling situation that they find themselves in under Sadiq Khan's leadership?"

He added: “In our area we are lucky enough to have fantastic police officers, doing their best for everyone in our community but the force was let down by the leadership of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Burnham.

“This week the Metropolitan Police have faced the same fate.”

He asked the Policing Minister Kit Malthouse what lessons can be learnt from the failures of leadership in Greater Manchester to rectify the situation in the Met Police.

In response, Mr Malthouse said: “He (James Daly) is right that sadly we have seen these issues that we saw in GMP reflected again in London the solution in the end is about leadership.

“I was very pleased to be able to assist the mayor’s office in London to find a really great leader for GMP and I know he’s driving forward a programme of change and progress which Mancunians will be feeling on a daily basis on the street.

“We now have to find a great leader for The Met who can reproduce it here in London.”

Mr Malthouse visited Bury back in April earlier this year after a spate of stabbings took place in the area. 

He gave his thoughts on how to tackle knife crime as well as discussing problems facing the public and the police force. 

Mr Malthouse announced that GMP received a funding boost to tackle these types of crimes. 

In response to criticism of his management of GMP, Mr Burnham said last year that he used his power to change the leadership of the force.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson took on the top job at the force, succeeding Ian Hopkins.

In response to the Met being put in "special measures, London major Mr Khan said: “A series of appalling scandals have not only exposed deep cultural problems but have damaged the confidence of Londoners in the capital’s police service.

“The decision by the HMIC to now move the Met into special measures has laid bare the substantial performance failings by the force."