How GMP plan to make women feel safe in Manchester city centre

Plain clothes police officers are to patrol streets, bars and nightspots as part of a force drive to keep women safe from sexual predators and drink-spikers.

They will be backed up by extra uniformed police officers in Manchester city centre as part of Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Safer Streets initiative.

“I don't any woman to be a victim particularly of rape and other offences – we want women to feel safe and to be safe,” said Supt Nicola Williams, who is responsible for the city centre.

GMP said it hoped to reduce sex attacks, spiking, harassment and voyeurism in the city further, after the first phase of the scheme cut by half the number of rape incidents reported between December 2023 to March 2025.

Government funding for the scheme, which covered Deansgate and Peter Street, is set to finish.

But GMP’s city centre division has been given £500,000 from force funds to continue it.

The new money will see the scheme expanded to the Northern Quarter and Canal Street.

“We just cannot afford not to fund this operation,” said Supt Williams.

She added: “It is important we do everything we can in a partnership to tackle those issues.”

GMP is working with Manchester City Council, the University of Manchester, and pub and club owners to tackle violence against woman and girls.

The force has been involved in training staff who work in pubs, bars and clubs to spot potential problems such as drink-spiking and to increase reporting to the police.

Deputy leader of Manchester City Council Joanna Midgley said the authority wanted to help make the city safe at night for women.

She added: “If women and girls don’t feel safe then they are not going to come into the city.

“It is in the best interest of individual businesses to improve the safety of women and girls.”