US Tech Firm Opens Manchester HQ, Vowing to Overhaul GMP's Troubled IT

MANCHESTER, England – January 23, 2026 – By Tyler Flores

Public safety technology firm Mark43 officially cemented its commitment to the UK this week, hosting Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and senior police leaders at its new national headquarters in Manchester. The visit, held on Monday, January 19, highlights a crucial partnership aimed at transforming the technological backbone of the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and marks a significant inward investment for the city's burgeoning tech sector.

Mark43, a US-based company, was appointed by GMP to deliver a new, state-of-the-art Records Management System (RMS). The opening of its first UK base in Manchester, staffed by a growing local team of over 20 specialists, is seen as a pivotal step in a long and often troubled journey for the police force's digital infrastructure.

During the visit, which included a tour of the new offices and meetings with staff, Mayor Andy Burnham praised the move. “Mark43 choosing Greater Manchester for their UK headquarters is a strong vote of confidence in our city region and its future,” he stated. “Having a permanent technology base here will support the ongoing transformation of policing in Greater Manchester and bring high-value jobs and new opportunities for apprenticeships and training.”

A Critical Lifeline for Ailing Police Systems

The partnership comes at a critical juncture for GMP. The force has been grappling with the catastrophic failure of its previous IT system, known as PoliceWorks, part of the iOPS platform rolled out in 2019. The £27 million system was plagued with issues from the start, leading to widespread complaints from officers who reported it hindered their ability to perform basic duties.

The situation became a public crisis when a 2020 inspection revealed that the system had failed to record an estimated 80,000 crimes over a 12-month period. The fallout was severe, resulting in GMP being placed in special measures and the resignation of its chief constable. The force's current leadership, under Sir Stephen Watson, made replacing the failing system a top priority, initiating a search for a modern, reliable alternative.

Mark43's cloud-native RMS is being positioned as the definitive answer to these legacy problems. Scheduled to go live in Spring 2027, the platform promises to streamline workflows, reduce administrative burdens on officers, and provide real-time data access across the force. Modern systems like Mark43's are designed to avoid the pitfalls of older, on-premise software, offering greater scalability, enhanced data security through cloud infrastructure like AWS, and open APIs that allow for better integration with other policing technologies.

Assistant Chief Officer Dougie Henderson, GMP’s IT and Digital Portfolio Lead, acknowledged the importance of the investment. "GMP has made a significant financial commitment to Mark43, working with them to deliver our new RMS, and it’s reassuring to see that commitment echoed in their decision to base themselves in Manchester," he said. "We have a considerable amount of work ahead... and having Mark43 on our doorstep, both now and after we go live, will be fantastic and a very valuable resource.”

Boosting Manchester's Digital Economy

The decision to establish a headquarters in Manchester is more than just a logistical convenience for the GMP contract; it's a strategic investment in the city's talent pool. Mark43 is actively recruiting for roles like Data Migration and Full-Stack Engineers, contributing high-value jobs to the local economy. Mayor Burnham emphasized this point, noting, “We are the UK’s leading digital and data-driven city region, with the skills, infrastructure, and ambition that international technology companies are looking for.”

Furthering this commitment, Mark43 announced it will soon launch an apprenticeship programme. The initiative will focus on developing sought-after technical skills in artificial intelligence, cloud-based software, and data science, directly aligning with the needs of modern policing and the wider tech industry. This move aims to cultivate a new generation of local tech talent, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of expertise within the region.

Matt Polega, Co-founder and UK Managing Director for Mark43, explained the rationale behind choosing the city. “Manchester is a natural home for Mark43 in the UK. The city has a strong public service tradition, exceptional talent, and a growing technology ecosystem,” Polega remarked. “We are proud to be investing here, expanding our presence, and building long-term partnerships that support UK policing while contributing to economic growth across the region.”

A Strategic Foothold in a Competitive UK Market

Mark43's Manchester headquarters represents a significant beachhead in its strategy to penetrate the competitive UK public safety market. The global police RMS market is projected to grow substantially, with some estimates suggesting it could more than double to over $5 billion by 2032, driven by the demand for AI integration and digital transformation in law enforcement.

While this is its first UK base, the GMP contract is not Mark43's first win in the country. The company previously secured a partnership with Cumbria Constabulary in 2022, a deal seen as a launchpad for further expansion. To bolster its credibility with UK agencies, the firm recently achieved both Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications, UK government-backed schemes that demonstrate a high level of cybersecurity readiness—a non-negotiable for handling sensitive police data.

Trusted by over 300 agencies in the US and UK, Mark43 is positioning itself as a modern alternative to established players in the UK market, which include giants like Sopra Steria, a leader in police dispatch solutions. By offering a unified, cloud-native platform for records, command and control, and analytics, the company hopes to convince other UK police forces of the benefits of moving away from fragmented, legacy IT systems. The success of the high-profile GMP implementation will be closely watched by police forces across the nation as a litmus test for the future of policing technology in the UK.