Specialist police officers have released dramatic footage showing the moment they descended on properties across Oldham to arrest five men suspected of child sexual exploitation, in the latest phase of a major investigation into historical abuse.
Greater Manchester Police executed five search warrants simultaneously on Wednesday morning, arresting men aged between 38 and 51 on suspicion of rape of a child. The suspects remain in custody for questioning following disclosures by two survivors about alleged offences between 2011 and 2014 in Oldham.
The 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. The operation has now resulted in 21 arrests to date, marking a significant escalation in efforts to bring historical abusers to justice.
The footage, released by Greater Manchester Police, shows officers in tactical gear forcing entry into a property before making an arrest. The coordinated dawn raids demonstrate the scale and seriousness with which authorities are now treating historical abuse cases that were previously overlooked or inadequately investigated.
Operation Sherwood is part of a larger dedicated team of specialist officers who are “solely working on major non-recent child sexual exploitation investigations in Greater Manchester.” The force has invested £2.3 million into the CSE unit, which will eventually comprise 106 dedicated officers once recruitment is complete.
“Our investigations into non-recent child sexual exploitation are intensifying across Greater Manchester, and these latest arrests and results reflect the relentless work of our officers,” said Detective Superintendent Alan Clitherow, head of GMP’s Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team.
“These are complex, and wide-ranging investigations and our specialists’ investigative team are working tirelessly to build robust case files that put child abusers behind bars. We are determined not to let the passage of time stand in the way of securing justice for survivors.”
The specialist unit has received national recognition, with Baroness Casey recently highlighting Greater Manchester Police’s CSE Major Investigation Team in a national audit as “the only one of its kind in the country, where a team of nearly 100 highly skilled investigators are dedicated to investigating the most serious cases of group-based offending.”
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker, lead for Protecting Vulnerable People, emphasised the force’s commitment to rectifying past failures. “The girls who were abused in Oldham over a decade ago are no longer children, and we are listening to them. We have learned from our past mistakes and applied our much deeper understanding of CSE toward taking rigorous steps forward in secure outcomes that they are satisfied with,” she stated.
“These criminals may have thought they had gotten away with it, but we are coming for them and will not allow passage of time to obstruct our investigations.”
Wednesday’s arrests are the latest in a series of operations across Greater Manchester targeting historical abuse. The force’s Operation Green Jacket, launched following a review of missed opportunities in Operation Augusta – a major CSE investigation in South Manchester from 2003 to 2005 – has also yielded results.
On 22 September, officers arrested a 47-year-old man in Longsight on suspicion of rape of a child. Two additional men, aged 38 and 40 from Rotherham and Leeds respectively, were arrested on 15 September on suspicion of sexual assault relating to offences alleged to have occurred in 2004. All three have been bailed on strict conditions pending further investigations.
Meanwhile, Operation Exmoor, a dedicated investigation launched in 2021 to review missed opportunities relating to sexual offences in Rochdale between 2008 and 2010, has resulted in four arrests in the past month. The investigation focuses on two victims, now adult women, who are being kept updated and supported by specialist officers and support agencies.
In a separate case, Ralf Bell, 59, of Green Lane, Stockport, was charged on 17 September with three counts of possessing pseudo-photographs of children covering categories A, B, and C images from 2012-2015. He is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on 22 January 2025.
The intensification of investigations follows years of criticism over authorities’ handling of child sexual exploitation cases across Greater Manchester. Previous reviews have highlighted institutional failures, with victims often criminalised or ignored whilst perpetrators operated with impunity.
The force has acknowledged these past failures, with Assistant Chief Constable Parker stating: “I want to reiterate my apology to all those who have been let down by GMP in the past.” However, she emphasised that current practices demonstrate significant improvement, pointing to recent convictions including 32 men brought to justice as part of Operation Lytton in Rochdale.
The team is focused on identifying offenders linked to “these non-recent offences” and is “working closely with survivors and partner agencies to build strong evidence,” according to the force. “Officers are committed to supporting survivors throughout the process and leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice.”
Greater Manchester Police has urged anyone who has been affected by sexual abuse to come forward. “If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available,” a spokesperson said.
The force highlighted that Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides comprehensive support including forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support, and counselling services for all ages. Services are available 24 hours a day.
Detective Superintendent Clitherow emphasised the force’s determination: “We continue to work closely with survivors and support agencies to ensure they are supported every step of the way. If you have experienced abuse, or know someone who has, please come forward – support is available, and your voice will be heard.”
The operations represent a significant shift in approach to historical abuse cases, with authorities now treating them with the same seriousness as contemporary investigations. The message to perpetrators is clear: the passage of time will not protect them from justice.
As investigations continue across Greater Manchester, the true scale of historical abuse is still emerging. With dedicated resources, specialist teams, and a commitment to supporting survivors, authorities are working to ensure that those responsible for these crimes finally face accountability, regardless of how long ago the offences occurred.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
