DEALING WITH CRIMINALS and facing up to dangerous and harrowing situations — not everyone's idea of a dream job, but all in a day's work for frontline police officers charged with keeping order in one of Britain's biggest metropolitan areas. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) regards the values of courage, compassion, integrity, professionalism and respect as being at the core of what its 13,517 employees do. It has been a difficult two years for the force since its former chief constable, Michael Todd, was found dead on Mount Snowdon in north Wales in March 2008. One of the ways in which the GMP has overcome such adversity is by trying to ensure its officers and civilian staff are looked after as well as possible. Officers and staff are, as a result, among the most stress-free of the UK's seven best large public sector organisations, with a positive 68% score ranking them third. They do not feel overly under pressure in the workplace (64%, another top three ranking) and say their health is not suffering (66%). Working across 93 sites, GMP employees cover an area of 500 square miles, serving more than 2.5m people, and a police officer takes home on average £29,000 a year. GMP staff feel they can play a part in the force's success (70%) but also recognise the need for teamwork, with people going out of their way to help one another (71%). As well as concern for colleagues (70%), they care greatly about the service they are providing the public (91%) and go as far as to say they love working for the police force (63%). Peter Fahy became chief constable following the death of Todd. As head of workforce development for the Association of Chief Police Officers, Fahy knows a thing or two about managing staff. Employees say he runs the force on sound moral principles (65%) and inspires them (52%), both of these scores beaten by just one other big organisation. They see the force as making a real difference to Mancunians (69%). www.gmp.police.uk