Advertisement

Three men arrested on suspicion of raping and murdering 36-year-old woman

See the following lightbox for more British Police images
An investigation is underway. (Getty)

Three men have been arrested in Bury on suspicion of the murder and rape of a 36-year-old woman, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

Officers have begun an investigation after the woman died in hospital.

Police attended the hospital and, after a series of enquiries, three men aged 32, 52, and 61, were arrested at an address in Bury on suspicion of murder and rape.

A crime scene remains in place with a team of detectives following up lines of enquiry. A post mortem assessment is yet to be made.

Detective Superintendent Kate Atton, from GMP's Bury CID, said: "I have no doubt that the community are shocked and are worried to hear the news about this incident but I would like to reassure them that we have a dedicated team of detectives investigating and following up various lines of enquiry to establish the circumstances around this lady's death.

Read more: 'Extremely concerning’ drop in convictions for domestic abuse

The government has been under pressure to tackle violence against women. (PA)
The government has been under pressure to tackle violence against women. (PA)

"High visibility patrols and local officers will be in the area and available to speak to anyone concerned and we will release more information as soon as we are able to.

"We want to give the lady's family the answers they deserve as they are understandably devastated at the loss and our thoughts remain with them. We'd ask anyone with information to come forward."

Anyone with information can report it online or by using the LiveChat service on Greater Manchester Police's website.

The death will place another spotlight on violence against women.

Since the death of Sarah Everard last year, police and the government have been under intense pressure to improve the safety of women.

Further deaths throughout 2021 including the murder of Sabina Nessa in London has kept the spotlight on the issue.

According to the Office for National Statistics, one in five women has experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16.

Approximately 85,000 women are raped and over 400,000 women are sexually assaulted in England and Wales every year.

According to End Violence Against Women conviction rates for rape are far lower than other crimes. Only 5.7% of reported rape cases end in a conviction for the perpetrator.

Watch: Duchess Camilla voices support for women affected by domestic abuse