GMP completes assurance review of individuals referenced as ‘potentially posing a risk to children’ in Rochdale – finding action has been taken in every possible case

Following the publication of ‘The review into Operation Span and the investigation of non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale’, Greater Manchester Police has completed a review of the ’96 individuals’ cited by the report authors as ‘potentially posing a risk to children’. The review found that police action had been taken in every possible case.

To assure the force, partners, and communities that GMP is effectively managing the risk to children in Rochdale, Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson commissioned the Serious Crime and Public Protection Department and district to review the ’96 individuals’.

The review found:

• 43 have been subject to police action – this includes investigations resulting in convictions and imprisonment, charges/ summons, and no further action – where there was insufficient evidence to charge

• 37 are referred to only by nicknames such as ‘Google’, ‘Juicy’, and ‘The dangerous man’, whilst others are referred to only by common forenames such as ‘Ali’, ‘Naz’, and ‘Raz’, which has not enabled identification as yet

• 15 are likely duplicates, as noted in the report

• One is deceased

Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: “We never underestimated how concerning it would be for our communities, partners, and colleagues to read this paragraph of the report but, following this review, I can assure them that GMP has investigated every one of the ’96 individuals’ that could be identified.

“The 37 individuals who are referred to only by nicknames or common forenames have each been subject to extensive research. Specialist investigators have examined the information given by the victims to extract key details such as descriptions, telephone numbers, social media accounts, locations and vehicles. These have then been checked against information held on police systems, by partner agencies, and by other victims/ witnesses.

“It goes without saying that if we receive additional information about anyone who remains unidentified, this will be reviewed and investigated by the force’s Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team regardless of the time passed – as would be the course of action in relation to any criminal investigation.”