Rochdale rape raid continues as police arrest man and target child abusers from grooming gang investigation

Monday, 30 June 2025 17:38

By David Murphy

A 38 year old man has been arrested in Rochdale on suspicion of raping a girl under 18, as part of Greater Manchester Police’s ongoing investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation

Greater Manchester Police's CSE Major Incident Team has arrested a 38 year old man in Rochdale this morning, 30 June, on suspicion of rape of a girl under the age of 18, as part of Operation Sherwood, an investigation into child abuse alleged to have occurred between 2011 and 2014.

The suspect was taken into custody following the execution of a warrant at a residential address in Rochdale. He remains in custody for questioning.

The arrest stems from recent disclosures by a survivor concerning alleged offences in Bolton, now being examined alongside other cases believed to involve multiple offenders and multiple victims. Officers confirmed the latest arrest forms part of broader efforts to pursue historic child abusers linked to the Oldham area, as part of the force’s high-priority inquiry.

Over the past three months alone, GMP has arrested thirteen suspects connected to Operation Sherwood. Two men, aged 38 and 40, were arrested last week in Oldham on suspicion of raping a child. Both have since been released on bail under strict conditions.

Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker, who leads GMP's Protecting Vulnerable People division, praised the survivors for their strength in coming forward: “The girls who experienced these abhorrent crimes over a decade ago are now women who have placed their faith in the GMP of today to bring justice. We are doing everything we can to secure outcomes.”

She added that while the cases involve significant complexity, detectives remain determined: “There is a team of detectives working endlessly with determination to bring child abusers in front of the courts to answer to strong evidence.”

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