16 arrested in historical child sex abuse cases

A police van with yellow and blue squares and police logo parked in amid bushes screened off with blue and white police tape (Stock image)Image source, Jacob Tomlinson/BBC
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Police say 15 men and one woman have been arrested

  • Published

Sixteen people have been arrested as part of an investigation into historical child sex abuse in Calderdale.

West Yorkshire Police said 15 men and a woman, aged between 39 and 73, were detained in Halifax, Dewsbury, Oldham, Manchester and Rossendale.

The offences were reported to have taken place in the Calderdale area between 2000 and 2004 and involved two female victims.

A force spokesperson said all of the suspects had been interviewed and either released under investigation or bailed pending further inquiries.

Det Ch Insp Claire Smith urged anyone who had been a victim of sexual abuse, regardless of how long ago, to report it to the police.

"Please be assured that you will be listened to, taken seriously and supported by professionals with experience of dealing with these kinds of offences," she added.

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