Domestic abuse survivor encourages other victims and survivors to report their experiences via Live Chat
The article highlights the story of Hannah Mellor, a domestic abuse survivor who used Greater Manchester Police's Live Chat service to report her abuser, Ben Fitton, who was later jailed for 18 years. The piece emphasizes the effectiveness of the Live Chat service for non-emergency incidents, providing a safe and immediate way for victims to seek help. It also features testimonials from call handler Emma and Detective Sergeant Ruth Thompson, who played crucial roles in supporting Hannah and ensuring her safety. The article encourages other victims to use the service and lists additional support resources.
Rape Survivor Reunites with Officers Who Helped Bring Abuser to Justice
A domestic abuse survivor has been reunited with the two women who supported her through the darkest moment of her life, after she found the courage to report her abuser through Greater Manchester Police’s Live Chat service.
Hannah Mellor, who endured two years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, reached breaking point in February 2023 when her ex-partner Ben Fitton threatened to harm her son at school. In that moment of terror, she accessed GMP’s 24-hour Live Chat service, where call handler Emma was waiting at the other end.
“Reading some of what Hannah had been through, I was determined to do everything within my power to get her the support she needed,” said Emma, who has worked in the contact centre since 2022. “To see how her journey started, and to have been a small part of it, shows that what we do can make a difference and how important it is to get that first contact right.”
After that initial contact, Detective Sergeant Ruth Thompson from Rochdale CID took over the case, visiting Hannah to obtain a full account and launching the investigation that would ultimately see Fitton jailed for 18 years.
“The moment someone makes that call or Live Chat contact might be the one and only time they feel brave enough to come forward,” DS Thompson explained. “When Hannah got in touch, she didn’t know what she needed or what she wanted to do. It was my role to ensure Hannah felt safe and comfortable with me, knew she was being heard and felt assured that no matter how she wanted to move forward, she was going to be supported.”
The reunion marked a powerful moment for all three women, with Hannah now encouraging other victims to use the Live Chat service, which handled over 85,000 conversations between August 2024 and February 2025.
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