In a recent development, six individuals have been charged with a total of 42 offences because of a police investigation into child exploitation in Rochdale. According to Greater Manchester Police, six males have been charged as part of this ongoing investigation into child exploitation.

All suspects are facing charges relating to historic abuse, including counts of involvement in the supply of class A drugs, the supply of class B drugs, and offences relating to modern slavery.  The men were remanded in custody following charge and were due to be brought before Manchester and Salford Magistrates Courts.

 The men facing charges are:

 Azaad Ali (17/04/1998) of Falinge Road

 Harris Ali (10/01/2005) of Edmund Street

 Aadam Ali Sajjad (26/07/2005) of Albert Royds Street

 Abdullah Talib (18/01/2005) of Chamber House Drive

 Subhan Khan (20/06/2005) of Millfield Grove

 Zain Abbas (13/11/2005) of Falinge Road

 This is not the first time that Greater Manchester Police have brought charges relating to child sexual exploitation in Rochdale, with a series of Operations between 2012 and the present day. 

As of January 2024, a total of 42 men have been convicted resulting in combined jail sentences of over 400 years.  In total, 47 girls were identified during the initial police investigation. 

There was widespread condemnation at the time the offences initially came to light, with the police issuing an apology for its failure to properly investigate the sexual exploitation allegations between 2008 and 2010.

 The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, commissioned an independent review which followed allegations made in the documentary ‘The Betrayed Girls’, about child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Greater Manchester.  The review covered a period between 2004 and 2013. It was highly critical of both GMP and councils in the area.  It set out a series of failures by the police. Further details can be found here

There are also other ongoing investigations by Greater Manchester Police (Operation Sherwood) relating to reported offences committed in the Oldham area of Manchester.

Unfortunately, these sorts of offences are by no means confined to the Northwest, and here in the Child Abuse department at Switalskis we are dealing with similar cases from across the country including Rotherham, West Yorkshire, the Midlands, and many more. 

 If you or anyone you know has been affected by this sort of abuse in Rochdale or elsewhere and would like a confidential discussion about the possibility of bringing a civil action, then please contact us today. Call 0800 138 4700 or email sally.smith@switalskis.com