Forensic Services steals the show

Forensic Services stole the show as GMP nationally showcased the ongoing transformation of the policing response to rape and other sexual offences under Operation Soteria Bluestone.

Ahead of the roll out of the National Operating Model in July 2023, Safeguarding Minister Sarah Dines MP and local media visited Vestigo House and Nexus House to see and hear, first hand, how the operational principles are being adopted by Forensic Services, and the Public Protection and Serious Crime Division.

During the visit to Vestigo House, the minister was shown how the Digital Forensics team are prioritising the extraction of data from electronic devices belonging to victims of rape and other sexual offences so that their phones can be returned to them within 24 hours, minimising disruption to their lives.

The Fingerprint Unit showed her how fingerprints are used to identify suspects.

Once the minister had left, BBC North West Tonight reporters stuck around to see how the Forensic Laboratory Unit recovers fingerprints from porous and non-porous materials.

Head of Forensic Services Emily Burton said: “Digital Forensics is one of the six pillars for improvement under Operation Soteria Bluestone.

“Since GMP adopted the principles, Forensic Services has made significant service improvements for victims of rape and other sexual offences – the majority of electronic devices are now returned within a few hours, and always within 24.

“The minister’s visit was a great opportunity for the branch to showcase the invaluable contribution police staff, particularly those within Forensic Services, make to the investigation of serious and complex crime and positive judicial outcomes.”

During the visit to Nexus House, the minster was told how the Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) is targeting and disrupting repeat offenders, whilst the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) told her how they identify young victims who have been targeted or exploited via the internet.

GMP was amongst the first 14 police forces in England and Wales to adopt the principles of Operation Soteria Bluestone.

Under the Greater Manchester Sexual Violence Harm Reduction Partnership, GMP and key partner agencies are continuing implementation of the key improvements to ensure that investigations are victim centred, suspect focused and context led.

Though this work is ongoing, data from the 12 months to the end of June 2023 shows early signs of progress – there has been a 4.2 per cent increase in recording and a 51 per cent rise in summons/charges, equating to approximately one in 16.

Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, Head of Public Protection, said: “I am grateful to the police officers and members of police staff who were involved in the planning for this visit and who so perfectly hosted the minister and her entourage at Vestigo House and Nexus House.

“Those of you who spoke with the minister accurately portrayed the force’s commitment to improving key elements of these investigations, all for the benefit of victims.

“It is great that GMP was one of just 14 forces to be given the opportunity to be involved in Operation Soteria Bluestone from the initial expansion onwards.

“We are never complacent and always improving, but we are already seeing the impact on positive outcomes –there was a 74 per cent increase in referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service between October and December 2022, compared to the quarterly average for 2019 (before Covid-19 caused data anomalies).”