No action over lack of police help a joke - victim

Greater Manchester Police said it was sorry for "any contribution we have had in prolonging this pain"

A victim of modern slavery said it was a "joke" that police officers who ignored her appeals for help would not face any disciplinary action.

Tina - not her real name - claimed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) "did nothing" after she told officers several times between 2009 and 2015 that she had been assaulted and forced into prostitution by her ex-husband.

While GMP apologised to Tina last year and admitted its failings, an investigation has now concluded and no officers will face action.

The force said it was sorry for "any contribution we have had in prolonging this pain".

'Horrible'

Tina said she first reported domestic violence in 2009 but GMP could not find any record of it.

She told BBC Radio Manchester she was "sold for sex at the hands of my ex-husband" and lost a baby while pregnant due to the abuse she had suffered.

"He beat me black and blue until I did as I was told," she said.

"He tried to suffocate me, drown me in water. He had me moving drugs up and down the UK for him. I have to deal with the psychological damage every day."

In 2010, when Tina was arrested on suspicion of stealing jewellery, she said she again told police about being abused.

She said GMP officers called her "a liar" and told her it "wasn't true".

Tina said "not being believed was horrible".

One of the officers has since retired while the other said they could only remember the theft investigation.

Recordings of interviews were destroyed in 2017, in line with standard police procedures.

In a letter seen by BBC News, the GMP investigator said they had "no reason" to disbelieve either Tina or the officer.

As a result, the investigator had "arrived at an impasse".

An internal GMP investigation could not substantiate Tina's claims

Tina said she felt GMP had not taken "ownership or accountability".

"I now want compensation and I'm looking for a human rights lawyer," she said.

"It's not about the money but I'd be able to start a fresh life. I'd be able to move away, feel safe and start again."

In a statement, GMP said Tina’s experiences were "distressing to listen to, let alone for her to have lived through".

The force added it had done "significant work" with other groups to "drastically improve our service to survivors of abuse and to give them confidence that we are listening".

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester what happened to Tina was "absolutely shocking".

"It is clear this was absolutely not handled correctly. Tina was quite seriously failed at that time. There are big learnings.”

He said there had been a "sea change" at the way GMP would respond now.

"The uncomfortable truth of the matter is that girls and women coming to GMP during that period were often not believed, dismissed or blamed and even prosecuted," he said.

"They are a different force today."