GMP supporting Sexual Violence & Sexual Abuse Awareness Week
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is supporting Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week (3-9 February), emphasizing their commitment to assisting victims and survivors. The article highlights GMP's efforts in handling sexual offences, including arrests, investigations, and safeguarding measures. It encourages victims to seek support, whether through police or local charities, and provides resources for assistance. Detective Superintendent Richard Hunt reaffirms GMP's dedication to improving services for victims and dealing robustly with offenders. The article lists multiple support services available in Greater Manchester.
Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week began today (3 February) with Greater Manchester Police urging victims to break their silence and seek support, regardless of when or how the abuse occurred.
The national awareness campaign, running through Sunday 9 February, highlights that sexual violence “can take many forms” and emphasizes a fundamental message: “it’s not okay” and “it is never the victim’s fault,” according to GMP. Officers across all districts continue making arrests, securing charges, and progressing investigations while working with specialist teams and partner organizations to ensure appropriate safeguarding measures protect victims.
Detective Superintendent Richard Hunt, the force’s Rape and Sexual Offences lead, acknowledged the challenges victims face in coming forward. “We fully recognise the difficulty for victims and survivors on speaking out and reporting crimes, and we continue to work to improve our overall service to assist those who come to us,” he stated. The force has invested in specialized training for new officers responding to sexual offences and implemented mechanisms to support both victims and investigations.
Victims have multiple options when seeking help - speaking with support organizations does not require filing a police report, and individuals maintain control over their next steps. Support services include St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (0161 276 6515), Greater Manchester Rape Crisis for women (0161 273 4500), and Survivors Manchester for male victims (0161 236 2182). Emergency reports can be made by calling 999, non-urgent matters through 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
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