Students urge action over sex predators

A PETITION is calling on Greater Manchester Police to step up patrols to prevent any more sexual assaults in student areas.

Created by Manchester Metropolitan University student Laura Fitzpatrick, the petition has gathered over 4,300 supporters,

Students feel that police statements asking students in Fallowfield, Manchester, to “take precautions to try and protect themselves from similar incidents in the future” is not good enough.

They want the police to spend more time patrolling the streets — despite police cuts — and dealing with personal safety.

The statement goes on: “We need the police to take initiative towards crime prevention and put more officers and PCSOs on the streets.”

GMP said that from 2012 to 2015, there have been 57 rapes against university students in the city centre, Longsight, Fallowfield and Didsbury neighbourhoods of the North and South Manchester Divisions.

Confidence

Det-Chief Supt Vanessa Jardine said: “There has been an increase in the reporting of sexual offences in recent years, which we believe is down to more victims coming forward and speaking to us.

“More people are having the confidence to break the silence but we acknowledge that one more assault or rape is one too many.

“I can assure you that GMP never blames the victim. Our latest campaign ‘No Consent No Sex’ was developed in close conjunction with local universities and reinforced our view with the simple strapline ‘drinking is not a crime, rape is’.

“We have also recently worked with Survivors Manchester to raise awareness of male rape and hold frequent online chats to answer questions that the public may have.

“Greater Manchester Police works extremely hard with a number of different partners, including the student unions and universities on a range of initiatives to improve student safety.

“This includes the expansion and development of Safe Zones, which are locations where students can seek assistance if they feel threatened or concerned while out on the streets.”

Anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted should contact police on 101, or St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161-276 6515 or Survivor’s Manchester on 0161-236 2182.”

View the petition at www.change.org/p/greater-manchester-police-take-initiative-to-prevent-sexual-assault

* Survivors Manchester was commissioned by Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group in January to provide therapy and psychiatric support for male victims of abuse.

email: iramramzan@oldham-chronicle.co.uk