Properties were raided in Salford, Longsight and Oldham
Properties were raided in Salford, Longsight and Oldham(Image: GMP)
Bodycam footage has captured the moment police stormed homes across Greater Manchester and arrested three men in connection with an investigation into child sexual exploitation.
Properties were raided in Salford, Longsight and Oldham on Thursday morning (July 17) by Tactical Aid Unit officers. It comes amid enquiries being made into the rape of a child under the age of 16.
The offences are alleged to have occurred in Oldham between 2011 and 2014 and are currently being investigated by detectives in GMP’s dedicated CSE Major Incident Team.
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The dawn raids were carried out at an address in Oldham where a man, aged 51, was arrested on suspicion of the rape of a child.
Two men were taken into custody following the warrants in Salford and Longsight, aged 33 and 52, also on suspicion of the rape of a child, police said.
It was revealed that the suspects are not believed to linked and were taken into custody for questioning following reports from three victims.
Could you spot a child who is at risk of CSE or CCE?
Spot the signs of child exploitation: Going missing for periods of time or regularly returning home late; skipping school or being disruptive in class; appearing with unexplained gifts or possessions that can’t be accounted for; experiencing health problems that may indicate a sexually transmitted infection; having mood swings and changes in temperament; using drugs and/or alcohol; displaying inappropriate sexualised behaviour, such as over-familiarity with strangers, dressing in a sexualised manner or sending sexualised images by mobile phone (“sexting”); increasing their screen time or showing unusual use of online platforms, such as websites, social media, apps or games; they may also show signs of unexplained physical harm, such as bruising and cigarette burns.
If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.
– Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.
– Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk
– We Are Survivors provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182 for help.
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker, lead for Protecting Vulnerable People, said: “Protecting children is our priority, and we are making significant strides in how we investigate cases of non-recent abuse. Baroness Casey recently highlighted our specialist CSE MIT team in a national audit as the only one of its kind in the country, where a team of nearly 100 highly skilled investigators are dedicated to investigating the most serious cases of group-based offending.
Police raided one of the properties in Oldham(Image: GMP)
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“We’re adapting techniques proven successful in dismantling serious organised crime groups because that’s how these child abusers operate by preying on vulnerabilities and exploiting them for their sick pleasures and criminal gains.
“The girls who were abused in Oldham over a decade ago are no longer children, and we are listening to them. We have learned from our past mistakes and applied our much deeper understanding of CSE toward taking rigorous steps forward in secure outcomes that they are satisfied with.
“These criminals may have thought they had gotten away with it, but we are coming for them and will not allow passage of time to obstruct our investigations. We are determined to ensure survivors can have faith in the GMP of today to bring offenders to justice.
“Bringing child abusers to justice is why our investigation teams work so tirelessly day-in day-out to piece together all the evidence to present the best possible case in court.
“These are long and complex investigations, but time will be no barrier to GMP’s commitment to seeking justice for survivors. We will not relent until they have been brought to justice for the misery they inflicted on children in Oldham.”
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