Five retired Greater Manchester Police officers, aged between 73 and 81, have been arrested as part of a serious investigation into the sexual exploitation of a girl in the 1960s.
The arrests follow months of enquiries triggered by allegations made by a woman who was under 16 at the time the abuse began. Some of the men are believed to have served on the force’s VICE squad, a unit then responsible for policing sex work, based at the former Collyhurst police station in North Manchester.
Three of the arrests took place last month after warrants were executed in Bolton, Bury and Trafford. The remaining two men were detained earlier this month. All five have been questioned on suspicion of sexual offences and misconduct in public office and are currently on conditional bail while investigations continue.
The alleged victim is receiving support from specially trained officers and partner agencies, and has been updated on the arrests.
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker of GMP described the case as “horrendous,” stating: “We commend the woman’s courage for coming forward and supporting this investigation. We do not underestimate how difficult it is for her to relive details of this horrendous abuse decades on from the time it was happening.
“I’m sure the public will be as troubled as I am that five former officers are suspected of being involved in the abuse of a woman when she was a vulnerable child and adult who needed their protection.”
Parker added: “No abuser is immune from justice and time is no barrier. The GMP of today is absolutely committed to ensuring victims are listened to and supported, regardless of who’s committed these offences and how long ago it occurred.”
The force has urged anyone with information to come forward, quoting Operation Salvador. GMP is also encouraging other potential survivors of sexual abuse, past or recent, to seek support from available services.
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