POLICE are attempting to reassure victims of crime they will be listened to after Eleanor Williams was sentenced for making false claims of rape and human trafficking.

Detective chief Superintendent Dave Stalker, Cumbria Police's head of crime, promised all reports to officers would be 'investigated thoroughly'.

He admitted people's confidence in the force was hit amid the outrage caused by Williams being charged with perverting the course of justice. 

Having seen Williams' Facebook post, many were shocked by what they viewed as a potential miscarriage of justice and some protested outside Barrow police station, demanding 'justice'.

Det Ch Supt Stalker has urged people to have confidence in reporting crimes.

He said: "I think it's very apparent that a catalyst - that being the social media post - did impact community confidence in us, and that was policing in general terms.

"You saw the issues that caused, the division within the communities and you could use a barometer of social media to gauge that public opinion.

"What we have not observed is a decline in reporting to us.

"People continue to report offences." 

He sought to reassure victims reports would be looked into.

"The Ellie Williams case is very unusual," Det Ch Supt Stalker said.

The Mail:

"However what has to be observed is the fact that every report she made,  even when it started to become apparent that there were false claims and lies intrinsically linked to what she was saying, every single report by that individual was investigated thoroughly - and that's exactly the same for any victim of crime.

"While it's evident that there were concerns within the community, the outcome of this case will reassure that justice in the end was delivered. "

He added: "The message is if people are affected by this, there are means by which you can contact police and other organisations within the local community that will support people."

Call police on 101.