Operation Limelight
Operation Limelight is a multi-agency operation that focuses on raising awareness of harmful practices and safeguarding potential victims of crimes, such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).
Taking place at airports, ports, and railway stations, as part of the operation we speak to passengers to educate them, to encourage them to share information, to provide support and advice where needed and to send the message that all harmful practices need to end.
Harmful practices are carried out for various cultural, religious, and social reasons within families and communities in the mistaken belief that it will benefit the child or young adult in some way.
During school holidays, children and young adults are often sent abroad to their native countries to be married to someone chosen for them by their family without their consent or to undergo a cutting procedure. Most of the time they don’t know why they are going abroad or what is going to happen to them.
Sussex Police have specialist staff and officers who have been trained to increase awareness and understand these hidden harms so that we can build trust and confidence with the public and especially those at risk of harmful practices.
These crimes are happening in our communities, and we are here to help those who are at risk to find a voice to report what is happening to them. We can then safeguard, signpost them to support services and, ultimately, end these harmful practices.
If you suspect a person of carrying out a harmful practice, or think someone you know has been a victim, or may be soon, there are various ways you can report it.
999
Is someone in immediate danger? Is a crime taking place or has one just happened? If so, call 999 now and ask for the police. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergency SMS service, Relay UK.
Report online
If you’d like to report online, you can use our online crime reporting service which is secure and confidential.
All reports made using this service are reviewed by our 24/7 contact centre within a few hours and someone will get back to you in a maximum of two days (although usually quicker).
Call 101
If you’d like to talk to someone, our national non-emergency telephone number is staffed 24/7. Call us on 101 and report what happened or just get some advice.
Visit a police station
If you’d like to speak to someone in person, we can provide a safe and comfortable environment at any of our police stations.
Other useful contacts
Crimestoppers
0800 555 111
Visit their website Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)