July 20, 2008 - By Simon Bennett

We invite readers to delve into our Regional Voices archive and re-read an article entitled “Greater Manchester: Two Rapes – But No Descriptions!” You will see that it refers to a report in the Manchester Evening News here about the hideous rape of a sixteen year old girl by two “un-described” men in a “dark coloured car” on the 23rd May. No arrests or further description of these attackers have yet been released – although it is claimed locally that the attackers were of “Asian appearance”!

Now we invite you to “fast forward” seven weeks and read the press release from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) here regarding an attempted abduction on the 16th July, a couple of miles away from where the Ashton Under Lyne rape occurred.

You will see that a description of the suspects is provided by the police and that they are referred to as “Asian” and that a dark coloured vehicle was involved.

Even more interesting, the same police press release then goes on to describe another attempted abduction on the 14th April by two “Asian” men in a “black BMW saloon”.

So, to summarise, we have one horrific rape in Ashton Under Lyne where the only description given is of “two men in a dark coloured car” and two attempted abductions close by, said to have involved two “Asian” men in cars described as “dark” and “black”.

Considering the close proximity of all three attacks, and considering that a dark/black coloured car with two “Asian” male occupants were involved in each incident, would it not be prudent for police to issue an urgent warning to all women to be wary of being approached by any dark/black coloured cars, having two male “Asian” occupants?

However, if you read the statements from the investigating officers from Tameside CID you can’t but fail to suspect that they are “singing from the same hymn sheet” in as much as their “reassurances to the public” are concerned! But why?

If GMP were doing their job properly then they would have already issued descriptions of these men and their vehicle/s – before another unfortunate woman falls victim! But apart from the local BNP, who can see through this all too familiar politically correct spin, it would appear no-one has yet made the possible connection between these incidents. But if GMP have established a connection, but are choosing to play politically correct games, thereby putting our womenfolk at risk, then that is inexcusable!

One final point – could it be that there were, in fact, two sets of rapists operating in the Greater Manchester area? We ask in the light of a news report concerning a rape which occured on the 5th July, which may be read here . The charging of the arrested pair was reported by the BBC during the morning of the 16th July – meaning they would not have been at liberty to be involved in the attempted abduction later that same day!

Is this the reason for GMP’s perceived “softly softly” approach to these crimes?