Greater Manchester Police have announced  that they have arrested 3 men in relation to sex and drugs offences against children as part of Operation Green Jacket, a large police investigation into child sexual exploitation (“CSE”) in the city.  Greater Manchester Police say that they have identified almost 500 victims of CSE, and over 650 offenders, dating back to the 2000s.  The police force states that there are currently 74 live investigations.  It is likely therefore that further arrests will follow. 

The Force’s Assistant Chief Constable, Mabs Hussain said: “Our commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation is unwavering… Each one of these investigations has the victims at the heart of them, regardless of whether offences were historic or recent, and we have a dedicated multi-agency victim services team that ensures they receive the best possible support….CSE perpetrators target and exploit some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and we understand how devastating the effects can be. We want to assure victims that even if they don’t wish to pursue a criminal justice outcome, we will listen to them and ensure they receive personalised support from committed professionals.”

Operation Green Jacket replaced an earlier investigation, called Operation Augusta, which was much criticised in a report commissioned by the Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, following the 2017 BBC documentary, “The Betrayed Girls”.   Operation Augusta identified 57 children but was “prematurely closed down…before it could complete its work”

Our Child Abuse Compensation department has represented over 100 survivors of child sexual exploitation, abuse and grooming across the country. If you would like a confidential chat with a member of our team please call 0800 138 4700.