A police officer who worked as a teacher for 10 years has become Tameside’s newest District Commander

Chief Superintendent Chris Foster has taken over as district commander in Tameside and is committed to ensuring children and vulnerable people feel safe in the community.

Ch Supt Chris Foster joined policing in 2003, after working for ten years as a primary school teacher. He was inspired by the idea of making a positive impact on victims of crime and creating a safer environment for his local community. In 2021, he joined Greater Manchester Police, where he has continued his good work in solving and preventing crimes such as burglary and domestic abuse offences.

He is bringing with him an abundance of knowledge and a deep understanding of future challenges from his previous experience as the lead on Operation Castle - the force’s response to burglary. Under his leadership, we solved 69% more residential burglaries in 2023 than in the previous year. Whilst the number of people arrested on suspicion of burglary in Greater Manchester rose by 42%. Every month there are hundreds fewer victims of this invasive crime across GM.

Furthermore, since July Ch Supt Chris Foster has utilised his experience to make steady progress in the decrease of anti-social behaviour and local crime within Tameside.

In line with GMP’s commitment to child safety, Ch Supt Chris Foster is taking a strong stance on the safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable people within Tameside. He is actively attending the adult safeguarding boards, as well as chairing the child safeguarding board and Youth Justice Board, to guarantee that police and partners effectively work together to tackle crime and ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are put in place. 

Chief Superintendent Chris Foster said: “Tameside was my first district when I joined GMP, I do feel right at home being back here. The people are incredibly welcoming, and I am proud to serve them as District Commander.

“It is my priority to work alongside partners to create a secure environment for those in the community to be able to safely go about with their day.

“Being involved with and speaking with members of the public is a vital part of policing. I want people to see us out on the street and feel that they can approach us, I want them to know that their concerns are being listened to and we are putting plans in place to address them.

“I am working alongside a really good team and am supported by officers who want to engage with the public. Most are local to the Tameside area and are heavily invested in the safety of the community. It’s not just a job for us, it’s a vocation and we want to make a positive difference for people.

“It is important that we are a police force that the people of Tameside deserve.”

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