Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have outlined a fresh commitment to transforming the way it investigates rape and sexual offences to address low conviction rates.

GMP is one of 14 police forces across the country to sign up to the expansion programme for Operation Soteria Bluestone, a National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) led and Home Office-funded research and change scheme, to transform and improve the policing response to rape and serious sexual offences.

Officials hope the programme will improve victim confidence and the way police pursue offenders as it focuses on key themes including suspect-focused investigations, the identification of repeat or serious offenders, victim engagement, the learning, development and well-being of officers and how it can improve data and digital forensics.

The programme will eventually be rolled out to all 43 Home Office forces across England and Wales.

The operation was first piloted in Avon and Somerset Police in 2021 as a response to the government’s End-to-End Rape Review.

However, the expansion has been developed further by insight from the Metropolitan Police Service, Durham Constabulary, West Midlands Police and South Wales Police.

Self-scrutiny and the support of leading academics have also proved crucial in the making of the expansion programme - and GMP has started its own self-assessment this October to review its current practices and ways in which it can improve further.

Detective Superintendent, Jude Holmes, force lead for rape and serious sexual assault, said: “Rape is an incredibly complex and challenging crime.

"Our officers are committed to getting victims the best possible outcome, but we recognise that more needs to be done to address low conviction rates.

“Operation Soteria Bluestone is an opportunity to bring about real and lasting change by scrutinising the work we do within our own organisation, alongside the wider criminal justice system and victim support services."

Bev Hughes, Greater Manchester deputy mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice, and fire, added: “Rape and serious sexual assaults are sickening crimes which have a deep impact on the victims, and we must do everything possible to continuously improve how we tackle them and prevent them from happening."

Ms Hughes highlighted the region's Gender-Based Violence Strategy, which will be rolled out nationwide in late 2023, as a "commitment" by Greater Manchester forces to implement a "gold standard" approach to investigating rape.

On GMP's new commitment to the Operation Soteria Bluestone strategy, she said: “I’m pleased Greater Manchester Police is one of the latest fourteen forces to join the programme, which is committed to improving the experience of victims and bringing about demonstrable change.

"Whilst achieving these aims will not be easy, Operation Soteria Bluestone is an opportunity to improve the way that these traumatic offences are policed and to keep people safe."