MANCHESTER, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 23, 2026--
Mark43 proudly hosted the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Deputy Mayor Kate Green with Deputy Chief Constable of GMP Terry Woods and senior leaders from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at its new Manchester offices on Monday 19 January 2026. The visit underscores Mark43’s significant commitment to the region, choosing Manchester as the home of its first UK base.
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Mark43 meets with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Police leaders.
Mark43, the supplier appointed by GMP to deliver a new Records Management System (RMS), has established a growing local team of more than 20 employees, with further recruitment underway to expand its pool of technology and policing experts from across Greater Manchester. In addition, Mark43 will soon launch an apprenticeship programme focused on developing technical skills in AI and cloud-based software skills and data science to enable police operations to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and public safety.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Mark43 choosing Greater Manchester for their UK headquarters is a strong vote of confidence in our city region and its future. 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.
“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. This is exactly the kind of investment that will help drive our economy forward and modernise policing for the benefit of our communities.”
Matt Polega, Co-founder, President, and Managing Director, UK, added: “It was a privilege to welcome the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, along with senior management from Greater Manchester Police to our Manchester office. Our partnership with GMP is grounded in a shared commitment to delivering the very best technology for policing, developed in close collaboration with the officers and staff who rely on it every day.
“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. 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. By working together, we can ensure police forces have access to modern, resilient technology that helps them protect and serve the public.”
Assistant Chief Officer Dougie Henderson, GMP’s IT and Digital Portfolio Lead, said: "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.
“I am delighted that Mark43 has embraced Manchester, supporting the local economy, creating jobs, and furthering Greater Manchester’s ambition as a global digital hub. We have a considerable amount of work ahead to achieve everything we need with the new RMS, and having Mark43 on our doorstep, both now and after we go live, will be fantastic and a very valuable resource.”
The visit included a tour of the new offices, meetings with staff, and an update on the progress of GMP’s new RMS, which is scheduled to go live in Spring 2027.
About Mark43
Mark43 brings modern technology to public safety, helping policing and emergency services work faster, smarter, and keep communities safer. Its integrated Records Management, Command & Control, and Data Analytics solutions form a unified, real-time platform that streamlines workflows and improves response times. Trusted by more than 300 agencies across the UK and U.S., Mark43’s cloud-native platform equips public safety professionals with innovative tools, AI capabilities, and a robust cybersecurity foundation to help agencies meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Visit www.mark43.com.
Mark43 Co-Founder, President and Managing Director, UK, greets Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Mark43 hosts Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Police leaders.
HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) — NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.
The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Trump's initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America's commitment to Europe's security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO's eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.
But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send "an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.
“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump’s latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who said allies knew the U.S. troop “posture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.”
U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.
But Rubio said Washington’s allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. “I think there’s a broad recognition that there are going to be eventually less U.S. troops in Europe than there has historically been for a variety of reasons,” he said.
The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.
Trump's initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war.
Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.
Rubio insisted that Trump’s decision “is not a punitive thing. It’s just something that’s ongoing.”
About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.
The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.
But Trump's latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move. On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. “We have a process in place. This is normal business,” he told reporters.
At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon's aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe’s defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.
Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: “I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that.” He said the procedure “is highly classified” and declined to give details.
Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: "Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.”
Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, front second left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, front left, speak with each other during a group photo at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte look at each other as they deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže speaks at the doorstep of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting at Sea U in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives with his wife Jeanette at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden, ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, second from left, shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, as he is greeted by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard, right, before a dinner at Sofiero Castle in Helsingborg, Sweden, Thursday May 21 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
