Liverpool City Council is liaising with Merseyside Police after a 16-year-old girl was raped in a nightclub toilet cubicle.
Merseyside Police received a report a 16-year-old girl was raped after a man forced his way into a toilet cubicle at OMG bar on Victoria Street. The girl reportedly went to the toilet on Monday, April 3, but the door was unlocked by the suspect who then sexually assaulted her.
The man then left the cubicle and an unknown woman came to help the victim who was very distressed. Merseyside Police confirmed a 24-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of rape in connection with the incident.
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Liverpool City Council's licensing team is liaising with police and the owners of the venue following the incident, which was described as "absolute abhorrent" by Detective Inspector Leanne Toole.
A spokesperson from Liverpool City Council said: "The city council’s licensing team is liaising with Merseyside Police, as well as the owners of the venue, in regards to this incident."
DI Toole said: "This was an absolute abhorrent attack on a vulnerable teenage girl, and I would like to reassure the public that incidents such as this are rare, and we are working hard to hard to identify the offender and bring him to justice.
“I am urging for the woman who helped the victim in the toilet cubicle to contact us as soon possible as she may have some vital information in relation to the investigation.
“Providing support to victims of sexual assault has never been more important, and I would encourage anyone experiencing this to report it to us and we will support you every way we can. If anyone who has suffered a sexual offence and you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will deal with you sensitively and make sure that reports are thoroughly investigated."
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information which could help us with our inquiries, is asked to DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with reference 23000285218.
To report a sexual offence call 101 where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you’ve been affected by sexual violence of any kind, support is available through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service delivered jointly by two registered charities. In Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, support is provided by Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside who are available on 0151 558 1801 and, in St Helens and Knowsley, by the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063.
For women who have felt or feel unsafe in public spaces the Home Office has set up a pilot service (StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk) for anyone to anonymously report public places where they have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, eg street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, eg being followed or verbally abused.
If something has happened to you or someone you know (including in public spaces online) you can call us on 101 or find out what online reporting services are available at StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk)
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