Cash recovered from criminals helps to fund hard-hitting play to reduce violence against women and girls

Criminal cash recovered by police is being used to help benefit the local community and the latest initiative in Tameside is seeing the benefits of the funding by conducting tours in schools across the district.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police were in attendance including Chief Inspector Claire Galt and School Engagement Officers Police Constables, Tony Lawton Greg Howard.

The informative drama production helps highlight violence against women and girls and will look to help challenge this behaviour through educating young people encouraging them to think about this harmful behaviour. The work has been commissioned by both Tameside Council and Greater Manchester Police as part of the wider work to support our joint commitment to tackling violence against women and girls in our communities.

The work, conducted by Breaking Barriers, shows a 20-minute monologue performance followed by a 30 minute facilitated workshop encouraging young people to look into deeper understanding of what violence against women and girls means and how we can support in creating safer spaces.

Breaking Barriers spent time speaking to the younger generation about violence against women and girls to learn what is concerning young people and what can be done. These conversations were then worked into the script to ensure that the tour targets areas that were shown as a concern.

Chief Inspector Claire Galt, of GMP’s Tameside Neighbourhood Team, said “We understand the importance of educating young people of these behaviours and it is more engaging when the information is presented as a play to students.

“Money, seized from criminals and distributed to police forces via the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), it is really great to see criminal’s finances being invested into communities across Greater Manchester to fund good causes that benefit our local communities.

“The activities must support GMP’s objectives to fight, prevent and reduce crime; keep people safe; and care for victims.

“We need to continue to work hard alongside our partners to combat these issues that are present in our communities, and we feel the best way to do this is to prevent, and by engaging with our younger generations we are closer to achieving this.”

Tameside Council Executive Member of Population Health Cllr Eleanor Wills said: “Helping to educate and support young people in challenging violence and harassment against women and girls is a huge step in starting to change behaviours now and in future years. I hope the young people come away from the sessions feeling informed, heard and empowered.”

Find out more and how you can apply for ARIS funding for a charity or organisation in Greater Manchester - Giving back: Investing in our community | Greater Manchester Police (gmp.police.uk)