Manchester's 'Red Light District' - Police getting up to a dozen reports a day from women getting attacked

Greater Manchester Police are receiving up to a dozen reports every single day of women getting attacked in Manchester's 'red light district'.

GMP are worried about the trading estate, near Piccadilly train station. They're currently dealing with a spate of attacks on women, which include rape and threats at knifepoint.

Kirstie Jackman is the Neighbourhood Police Officer for the area: "It's predominately known for sex work.

"The majority of my work is to do with the assaults, robberies, and sexual offences that occur within that community.

"Reports wise, it's gone through the roof in terms of what they're comfortable reporting. We're very proactive, we target offenders quite hard because they are dangerous perpetrators."

Kirstie said she has gained the trust of sex workers over the months: "I'm on first name terms with everyone I work with, they all have my work number and work email, they know they can come to me and text me whenever.

"It is a tough role to try and get their trust.

"It's quite hidden, it's still a bit of a taboo, but I feel like we're getting somewhere with it now and building that trust with them, having that regular face who comes in, who they know they can speak to and trust... its really important.

"If I do something good with a sex worker in the area then they tell their friends and other sex workers, it makes them more confident to come forward if they need to report something."

Kirstie often visits the 'red light district' to speak with women: "I just take my radio and my body camera, my laptop.

"I go down in plain clothes, and in a plain vehicle, and I'll sit and talk to them about general life and their experiences. There are times they'll come up to me and say they want to report something or 'can I have some advice on something' so I take that report and have that discussion."