Dedicated hotline to support crime victims is up and running

A new helpline offering support services to victims of crime in Greater Manchester has been launched. 

It follows an announcement last week by Mayor Andy Burnham and Deputy Mayor Bev Hughes. 

GMP - the second largest police force in England, responsible for policing in Tameside and Oldham - was put into an "advanced phase" of monitoring last Thursday to reflect the "poor service the force provides to many victims of crime". The new measures are expected to remain in place until sufficient improvement has been demonstrated. 

On Friday, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins - who joined the force in 2008 - resigned. He was due to retire in autumn 2021 but has brought it forward "given my current ill health" and to help with "the timely recruitment of my successor". 

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Pilling has stepped up as interim Chief Constable ahead of a full recruitment process which will begin in the new year. 

It comes after a damning report by a police watchdog earlier this month, which found that it failed to record 80,000 crimes in a year. 

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary estimates that the force recorded just 77.7 per cent of reported crime between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020, as well as about a quarter (one in four) of all violent offences - thus failing to protect many vulnerable victims.  

The Greater Manchester Crime Support Line will provide support to victims of crime who may have concerns about how their crime has been recorded by Greater Manchester Police or would like support to help them cope and recover.

The service is independent of the police and is being delivered by charity organisation Victim Support on behalf of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

As well as offering support to victims of crime via existing services, the dedicated line will also offer advocacy to victims of crime who wish to report a crime if it has not been recorded in the past as it should have been, or raise any associated issues or concerns.

The support line, on freephone number 0808 196 8416, is designed for Greater Manchester-based victims of crime to contact if:

• You have previously reported a crime to GMP but were not referred to support services to help you cope and recover.
• You wish to make a formal complaint or raise any concerns or issues about how your crime report was dealt with.
• You want to report a crime if it has not been recorded in the past as it should have been.

Bev Hughes, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, said: “The public must have confidence that if they report a crime to the police, it will be treated with the upmost seriousness, recorded appropriately, and they will be given the help and support they need.  

“It is clear from HMICFRS’ latest inspection that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has let down victims, and while some improvements have been made following previous concerns raised by the Inspectorate, these have not been quick enough or gone far enough.

“Along with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, I have accepted the Inspectorate’s report in full and initiated a series of urgent actions, including the launch of a new Crime Support Line today, which we hope will restore public confidence and ensure that no victim of crime is left without the support they need.  

“My plea to anyone who feels that their crime has not been dealt with as it should have been, or if you feel you weren't offered support to help you cope and recover, please contact the Greater Manchester Crime Support Line on 0808 196 8416.”

Jo Parks, Victim Support’s Services Director for North and North Midlands, said: “We encourage any victim of crime who feels they have been let down by Greater Manchester Police to contact our support line. We are independent of the police and our specialist staff can help you to challenge a police decision, make a complaint, get an update on your case or report a crime.

“Many victims will understandably feel let down by the recent news and some may feel re-traumatised or re-triggered. We want victims to know that support is available. Regardless of how you have been impacted, our support line is here to help you, and can be accessed anonymously if you choose.”

Anyone who wishes to report a crime that has taken place within the last month should contact GMP directly by calling 101 or report online at gmp.police.uk. If you, or someone else, is in immediate danger, you should always dial 999.

People can also contact GMP directly if they want to make a complaint, request an update on an existing crime, or submit a new crime report. Visit gmp.police.uk

Over the Christmas period, the support line will be open: 

Monday 21 December: 9am-7pm
Tuesday 22 December: 9am-7pm
Wednesday 23 December: 9am-7pm
Christmas Eve: 9am-2pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: CLOSED
Monday 28 December: CLOSED
Tuesday 29 December: 9am-5pm
Wednesday 30 December: 9am-5pm
New Year’s Eve: 9am-2pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED

Normal opening hours (9am-7pm Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday) will resume on Monday 4 January.

There is a voicemail facility to take out of hours messages.

Anyone needing urgent support outside of these hours should call Victim Support’s national Supportline on 08 08 16 89 111 – which is open 24/7 including on Christmas Day. Alternatively, you can use Live Chat online at victimsupport.org.uk

People can also find help, advice and local support services at gmvictims.org.uk