GMP will be the first in the UK to record domestic abuse in the LGBT community in a pledge to tackle under-reported crime.

Incidents involving members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans will be given a specific code.

The initiative was launched on Manchester’s Canal Street with Manchester’s new openly gay Lord Mayor, Councillor Carl Austin-Behan, offering his support alongside Detective Chief Superintedent Vanessa Jardine from GMP, and representatives from Broken Rainbow and LGBT Foundation.

DCS Jardine said: “We have worked long and hard alongside organisations like Broken Rainbow and the LGBT Foundation to introduce this code and show the LGBT community that we will continue to tackle domestic abuse.

“This is another strong step in the right direction in dispelling some myths and gives people the confidence to report crimes in the knowledge that it will be dealt with appropriately - we want to encourage victims and friends and family of victims to report the issue and have the confidence to come forward.”

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Starting next week the code will be piloted in GMP’s city centre division over the next six months.

If successful the code will be rolled out across the force and information shared with support organisations.

Specialist training saw over 200 officers learn about issues surrounding domestic abuse specifically in the LGBT community and the barriers that exist around reporting.

In March 2014 GMP was slammed by government inspectors for failing to protect victims of domestic violence.

Det Chf Supt Vanessa Jardine
Det Chf Supt Vanessa Jardine

A report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary identified ‘key weaknesses’ in the force’s system for dealing with victims which required ‘urgent’ action.

Later this year the Independent Police Complaints Commission will report of three domestic homicides in Greater Manchester and it is expected the force will face some criticism over the way it handled the cases.

Emma Baldry, Training Co-Ordinator at Broken Rainbow, who provided training for the 200 officers, said: “I was incredibly proud to be able to deliver this important training and was really encouraged by the positive comments and input from the officers taking part. I’m confident that having this code in place will give us all a truer reflection of reporting of domestic abuse within LGBT relationships.

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“Prior to the new coding being introduced, national statistics gathered on reports filed do not record sexual orientation. We believe that 1 in 4 for LGB relationships, and 4 in 5 Trans relationships involves domestic abuse. This new code will enable Greater Manchester Police to collect data that will give us a more accurate picture of the extent of LGBT domestic abuse in the Greater Manchester area. This will help us to strengthen our partnership with GMP in supporting the LGBT community and hopefully other forces across the UK will follow their lead.”

The change comes just seven months after GMP made a pledge to adapt their system as part of awareness raising campaign “There’s no pride in domestic abuse”.

Councillor Austin-Behan, said: “This is a huge step forward for British policing, and GMP is demonstrating real leadership by being the first force in the country to identify LGBT domestic abuse and violence. All communities are affected by domestic abuse and violence, the LGBT community is no exception.”