Police in Rochdale have arrested four boys between the ages of 12 and 14 on suspicion of rape following reports of an incident in the Newbold area, according to a statement issued by Greater Manchester Police (GMP). The police were alerted around 18:00 GMT on February 10th, and the four suspects remain in custody. A crime scene on Kingsway has been established, and the victim is receiving support from specialist officers.
GMP are urging anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted to come forward and report it to the police or to a support agency. The spokesperson added that the support of rape victims is paramount and that there are considerable resources available for individuals facing such crimes. There is no further information available at this time.
The GMP operation comes following increasing concerns about crime in the Newbold area, which has seen a spate of assaults and other crimes in recent weeks. In response, local community groups have come together to campaign for greater protection for vulnerable groups, including women and children.
Reports of sexual assault and rape are on the rise across the UK, according to a report published by the Crime Survey of England and Wales. The report indicated that there had been a 10% increase in sexual assault and 14% in rape. The findings are thought to be linked to increased reporting rates due to the #MeToo movement, which has encouraged women and men to speak out about such crimes. However, experts say that there is still a long way to go in terms of supporting victims and reducing crimes
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