Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is mounting a concerted effort to restore public trust following damning independent reviews that uncovered historical failures in tackling group-based child sexual exploitation in towns like Rochdale and Oldham. A new, proactive approach to safeguarding is now yielding significant results.
Operation Luka: A New Frontline in Child Protection
Launched two years ago, Operation Luka represents a fundamental shift in strategy. It has already led to rape charges, hundreds of potential crimes being disrupted, and, most crucially, the protection of approximately 270 children. The operation's effectiveness stems from a radical collaboration model.
At the heart of this initiative is the Complex Safeguarding Hub, located just off St Peter's Square in central Manchester. Here, specialist GMP child protection officers work side-by-side with social workers and health professionals. This co-location breaks down traditional barriers, enabling real-time intelligence sharing and joint action—a practice authorities have often been criticised for neglecting.
On the Ground: Building Trust in the Night
The partnership moves beyond the office and onto the streets. Specialist teams conduct joint patrols in identified risk areas, such as Piccadilly Gardens. Sky News joined one such patrol, where social worker Anthony Green engaged with vulnerable young people out late at night.
"What time you're going home?" he asked a 15-year-old girl known to have been skipping school. Her uncertain replies—"I don't know"—highlighted the precarious situations these children face. The area is frequented by drug dealers and shoplifters, but more alarmingly, GMP has identified 40 individuals in the Piccadilly Gardens vicinity alone as a potential child exploitation threat.
Detective Inspector Chris Chadderton of Operation Luka emphasised the value of this integrated approach. "It's all about trust," he stated. "They're happy to speak to their social workers. Us working together, being in the same office, that information passes on a lot quicker." This trust was demonstrated when a child Anthony met on patrol later confidently reported seeing someone with a knife in a McDonald's restaurant.
Operation Makesafe: Empowering the Hospitality Industry
A critical second strand of GMP's safeguarding drive is Operation Makesafe. This programme trains hotel staff to recognise and report signs of potential exploitation. Receptionists are given clear guidance on when to call police, such as when an adult checks in with an underage girl.
The force shared a recent 999 call with Sky News that illustrates its impact. A vigilant receptionist, concerned about a girl who looked about 15, mouthed to her "do you need any assistance" while her male companion was distracted. Seeing the girl appeared scared and controlled, he alerted police. Officers were dispatched immediately and arrived on scene before the call had even ended.
This rapid response was mirrored in another incident, where a caller reported a 14-year-old girl with a man in a hotel. Police were at the door within minutes, leading to the man's arrest for drug offences and attempting to have sex with a minor.
Measuring Success Beyond Convictions
Over the past two years, the combined efforts of Operations Luka and Makesafe have resulted in two men charged with rape and 363 criminal disruptions. While investigating both individual and group-based exploitation, DI Chadderton notes that success isn't solely measured in court.
"It's not always about whether we get that successful prosecution at the end," he explained. "It's sometimes about making sure we can get that young person out of that situation where they feel that they're trapped."
For social workers like Anthony Green, victory is found in relationships. "The successes for us are the relationships we build with children," he told Sky News. "If they can turn to us or talk to us, and we can see them develop, grow, and get really good outcomes, then that's a win for us."
While the shadows of past scandals and the three independent reviews of the last five years still loom over Greater Manchester's authorities, GMP insists that child sexual exploitation is no longer a blind spot. This new, unified front aims to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
