Police arrest eight more suspects over historic child sex investigstions

Greater Manchester Police have arrested eight more people this week as they continue to investigate historic child sexual abuse cases

This morning saw five people arrested across Oldham the men – aged between 38 and 51 – were arrested following disclosures from two survivors about offences taking place between 2011 and 2014 in Oldham.

These arrests form part of Operation Sherwood, a complex and wide-ranging investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation and group-based sexual abuse in Oldham. To date, 21 suspects have been arrested as part this dedicated operation.

On Monday  officers arrested a man – aged 47- at an address in Longsight on suspicion of rape of a child as part of Operation Green Jacket.

Additionally, police arrested two further suspects on Monday 15^th September. Both men, aged 38 and 40 from Rotherham and Leeds, were arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in relation to offences alleged to have occurred in 2004 in Longsight, Manchester.

These arrests follow from last month in Longsight, where a man – aged 52 – was arrested on suspicion of rape and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, in connection with an offence dating back to 2007.

All suspects have been bailed on strict conditions pending further investigations.

Separately, on Wednesday 17^th September, Ralf Bell aged 58  of, Green Lane, Stockport was charged with three counts of possessing pseudo-photograph of a child covering categories A, B, and C images from 2012-2015.

He due to appear at Manchester Magistrates on court on 22^nd January 2026

Meanwhile on the 12^th September, officers arrested a man – aged 74 – on suspicion of two counts of rape of a child.

This came just a day after another man, aged 79, was arrested at an address in the Castleton area of Rochdale, also on suspicion of two counts of child rape.

The two victims – now both women – are being kept updated and supported by specialist officers and support agencies. All four suspects have been interviewed and released on bail with strict conditions, as detectives continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to build a robust case for court.