Manchester City Council has pledged to put the safety of women in our city “at the heart” of Manchester’s night time economy.
After publishing a groundbreaking 10-year plan to protect women in March 2021, with Mayor Andy Burnham declaring that he wanted the “streets, workplaces, schools, universities and homes of this city-region to be safe for every woman and girl”, the Council has now said that steps are being put in place to improve the safety of women in Manchester’s night time economy.
From September 2022, businesses who operate at night time in Manchester will be encouraged to sign and pledge support to the Women’s Night Time Safety Charter – which is officially being launched this week.
The charter will set out how organisations can prioritise the safety of women – both employees and customers – in our city.
The implementation of this new charter by Manchester City Council comes after improving safety for women in Manchester was named as one of the key priorities of Cllr Bev Craig when she was elected as leader back in 2021.
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According to the Council, all businesses who sign up to the charter will be asked to pledge their support to these seven commitments:
Appoint a Champion – Nominate a champion in your organisation who actively promotes women’s night safety.
Communicate – Demonstrate to staff and customers that your organisation takes women’s safety at night seriously.
Support your staff – Remind customers and staff that Manchester is safe, but tell them what to do if they experience harassment when working, going out or travelling.
Support the public – Encourage reporting by victims and bystanders as part of your communications campaign.
Training and responding – Train staff to ensure that all women who report are believed.
Training and recording – Train staff to ensure that all reports are recorded and responded to.
Design – Designing space for safety.
Manchester City Council has pledged to put the safety of women in our city “at the heart” of Manchester’s night time economy / Credit: Logan Weaver & shawnanggg (via Unsplash)
The Council says these steps are intended to “help businesses identify and prevent the harassment of women”, as well as “bring about a cultural change” by bringing the safety and wellbeing of female staff and customers to the forefront of the night time economy.
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More than 40 businesses have come forward to pledge their support to the charter so far.
“When I became the Leader of the city of Manchester, I pledged to put the women and girls at the heart of what we do to make Manchester a fairer and safer city,” Cllr Bev Craig said on the implementation of the charter.
“Over the last nine months, there has been additional investment in tackling misogyny and violence, and this is a great example of the practical steps we are taking.
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“It is incredibly important that we do everything in our power to ensure that women can feel safe in Manchester.
“We have a well-justified reputation for an outstanding night-time economy, but that accolade must be earned. The Night Time Safety charter is a call to collective action for any organisation who works, resides, designs or delivers services in our city, so join us and make a Manchester-wide push to help make Manchester the safest, most welcoming city in the country.”
Victim named and murder investigation launched after young woman is killed in Newton Heath stabbing
Emily Sergeant
The victim of a street stabbing in Newton Heath this week has been named for the first time as a murder investigation continues.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance at around 2am yesterday (Thursday 15 October) on Dorking Avenue, in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, and when they arrived on the scene, they found a woman in her 20s with serious injuries that were ‘consistent with a stabbing’.
Despite best efforts of all emergency services involved, the young woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
As the murder investigation progresses, the woman has now been publicly named and a photo of her has been released for the first time.
She has been named as 26-year-old Alisha Samuels.
At this time, one man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a man and woman, aged 61 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they all remain in custody – with officers continuing their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
Alisha’s family have asked for privacy whilst they deal with the devastating loss of their loved one, GMP has stated.
“We are continuing to urge people who may have information in relation to this incident to please come forward to support our investigation and bring justice for Alisha,” the police force said in a public appeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has mobile phone, CCTV, or doorbell footage, is urged to call GMP on 0161 856 5464, or contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Featured Image – GMP (Family Handout)
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Former supply teacher jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A former supply teacher has been jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester.
Abusali Rahman – a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford – appeared in Bolton Crown Court this week for his sentencing after first being charged with, and then pleading guilty to, several offences.
The offences are including, but not limited to, 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting), three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (making AI-generated images), and one count of attempting to meet girl under 16 following sexual grooming.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Twelve girls have been identified in relation to the upskirting offences – aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending – at seven high schools in three Greater Manchester boroughs (Bury, Bolton, and Salford).
GMP says it has remained in close contact with the schools, local authorities, and other partners throughout the investigation to ensure all appropriate support is in place for those who need it.
Additionally, the court also heard how Rahman amassed a collection of images of young girls, using AI and other methods to sexualise them.
The images numbered more than 300 in total, ranging from Category A to Category C classifications, and Rahman would post these on social media, often alongside humiliating and disgusting captions.
Rahman was sentenced to six years in prison, and will also be subject to a 20-year Sexual Harm Protection Order.
A former supply teacher has been jailed for child sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP
Detective Constable Lisa McGaffin, from GMP’s Bolton Child Protection Team, described Rahman’s crimes as ‘absolutely abhorrent’.
“My thoughts throughout this process have always been with the young girls who have been subject to such indignity,” DC McGaffin said following the sentencing this week. “Their welfare and support will always be a priority for us.
“While working as a teacher – someone who young children should trust and be safe with – Rahman repeatedly took secret photos for his own sick gratification, before posting images online which showed his total disregard for the girls’ respect and dignity.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd September 2022 
