Man, 39, Arrested Over 2007 Child Abuse Allegations
A 39-year-old man with no fixed address has turned himself in and been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault and the rape of a child aged between 13 and 15. The alleged offences are believed to date back to around 2007.
Operation Green Jacket Cracks Down on Child Exploitation
Launched in 2017 following a review ordered by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Operation Green Jacket targets historic child sexual exploitation (CSE) across Greater Manchester. Since its inception, the operation has led to 31 arrests, with an additional 13 made under Operation Bridgewater.
Manchester City Council has committed significant resources to support the police, ensuring no stone is left unturned in these investigations.
Major CSE Operations Show Results
- Operation Sherwood investigates offences in Oldham from 2011 to 2014.
- Operation Lytton focuses on Rochdale offences between 2002 and 2006 and predates the Mayor’s review.
Operation Lytton is already bearing fruit, with eight defendants facing trial in 2023 on 82 charges including rape, sexual activity with a child, and gross indecency.
Growing Team, Tougher Justice
The GMP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit is expanding its staff from 85 to 106 in the new year to handle the rising number of investigations.
Detective Superintendent Dave Kehoe said: “Yesterday’s arrests show the outstanding work our team is doing to catch offenders and deliver justice, no matter how long ago these crimes occurred.”
“These investigations are complex and rely heavily on the courage of victims, many of whom are women who bravely relive traumatic childhood experiences. Their bravery deserves our utmost respect.”
“Since Operation Green Jacket began, we’ve worked closely with local councils to ensure a strong multi-agency response. Just because these crimes happened years ago doesn’t mean offenders will escape justice. We have many ongoing investigations and expect to take more positive action in 2023.”
Paul Marshall, Strategic Director for Children’s Services at Manchester City Council, added: “Operation Green Jacket highlights how our approach to tackling child sexual exploitation has been strengthened through close partnership with GMP. This work is vital to protect children and hold offenders accountable, including in historic cases.”
