Seven men were arrested this morning ( (Tuesday, 24 September) after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) executed warrants at nine addresses in Manchester, Stockport, and Wilmslow as part of a wide-ranging and complex investigation into the exploitation of teenage children in the city in the early 2000s.
GMP are currently questioning the suspects – aged between 41 and 54 – on suspicion of offences including rape and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity relating to a girl aged under 16.
The action today is the latest as part of our dedicated investigation – codenamed Operation Green Jacket – led by our Child Sexual Exploitation Major Incident Team in partnership with Manchester City Council.
So far, GMP have detained and interviewed 64 suspects since the investigation was launched in May 2019, and their specialist detectives continue to pursue all available lines of enquiry to help bring long-awaited and deserved justice for survivors.
Earlier this month, the first suspect charged as part of this investigation appeared in court accused of six offences against two teenage girls between May 2004 and February 2005.
Detective Inspector Eleanor Humphreys, deputy senior investigating officer for Operation Green Jacket, said: "Today's action is just the latest part of our wide-ranging investigation into the shocking abuse that young children were being subjected to in south Manchester in the early 2000s.
"Despite the passage of time, this investigation will not go away until offenders are held responsible for their appalling actions. We are clear when we say that in Greater Manchester, time is no barrier to justice.
"Our extensive work alongside partners will continue. We are doing everything in our power to support survivors and work at a pace they are comfortable with, to listen to them and to ensure that suspects are identified, traced, and brought into custody."
Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member for Children's Services for Manchester City Council, said: "We welcome these arrests and progress in this important and complicated operation. We share GMP's determination to see the perpetrators of these awful crimes brought to justice.
"The Council has actively supported this operation through staffing and other resources since it began. Operation Green Jacket exemplifies how effectively GMP, the council and other partners are now working together to tackle child sexual exploitation and support those affected by it."
