An inspection of the force’s child protection saw it rated Good in two areas and Adequate in the remaining three.
It was carried out by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which said the force’s child protection arrangements in place were Good.
Areas where the force can improve include how GMP investigates online exploitation and staff understanding the wellbeing support options available to them.
GMP has also been told to improve how it records information about children which would help it to assess risks more effectively.
The force has also been praised for having strong leadership, strong oversight of its performance, practice and the quality of service it provides.
It comes after the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham commissioned an inspection into how GMP and its partners investigate allegations of child criminal and sexual exploitation and how they support victims and survivors.
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The inspection is the final element of a major review which started in 2017 that has so far looked into historic child sexual exploitation (CSE) cases in Oldham, Manchester and Rochdale.
The independent review was commissioned by Mr Burnham after The Betrayed Girls, a BBC documentary about CSE in Greater Manchester, first aired in 2017.
Mr Burnham said at the time he wanted to assure himself and the public that everything possible is being done to protect children now and in the future and to prevent it from happening again.
This update from the HMICFRS comes before part four of an investigation into the current handling of CSE cases in Greater Manchester, which is due in summer next year.
HMICFRS described the initial findings as ‘encouraging’ and noted that the process largely meets its aims of using its findings to inform strategy and improve the work to safeguard children across the city-region.
Mr Burnham said: “Having read the report and letter in full, I am firmly of the view that the Greater Manchester system is in a demonstrably different and far stronger place today than it was in the days covered by the previous reviews. They provide clear evidence that leaders and practitioners have positively responded to what has gone before and that they are committed to going further.
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“This is encouraging to see but we cannot be complacent. There are areas identified for further improvement and more reports to come before my question can be fully laid to rest.
“So today, I am saying to the public of Greater Manchester that you can be confident that the Greater Manchester system is in a much stronger place to protect and safeguard children at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation.
“However, I will remain relentless in my determination to ensure Greater Manchester is as safe as it can possibly be for our children. Today marks a juncture but that work will never conclude.”
Chief Constable of GMP, Stephen Watson, said the “report recognises that the GMP of today is one that affords child protection the priority that it deserves” but acknowledged there are “further improvements to make”.
Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, Kate Green, said: “Today’s reports are clear that, while good progress has been made, there is still more to do to ensure that the whole GM system is good in every respect at protecting our children.
“That work has already begun, and will continue under my oversight on behalf of the Mayor.”
