Arrests made in Rochdale historical child exploitation investigation

A number of arrests have been made by police investigating historical child sexual exploitation in Rochdale.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) say Operation Lytton is a "complex" inquiry into abuse committed in the town between 2002 and 2006.

It is the latest probe to focus on historical abuse in Rochdale following the 2012 convictions of a gang of nine Asian men - eight of Pakistani and one of Afghan heritage - who were jailed for grooming young white girls.

Those offences happened in and around Rochdale in 2008 and 2009 when the victims aged between 13 and 15 were given alcohol, food and money in return for sex.

The case was later dramatised in the BBC TV series Three Girls.

In the wake of the 2012 trial, another inquiry, Operation Doublet, was set up by GMP to investigate child sexual exploitation in the town between 2003 and 2013 and eventually led to more convictions and jail sentences for separate offenders.

On Friday, Greater Manchester Police said:

They added: "Detectives are working alongside partners to provide a multi-agency response to safeguarding victims and providing them with the most suitable support, whilst identifying and bringing offenders to justice.

"A number of arrests and interviews have already taken place and the investigation continues.

"Due to the sensitivities associated with offences of this nature, victims are at the forefront of our investigation and it would be inappropriate to release any further information at this time."

The emergence of Operation Lytton was reported by Manchester news website The Mill