Nineteen men arrested over child sexual abuse

The arrests took place across West Yorkshire and beyond in October, police say

Nineteen men have been arrested by police investigating historical child sexual abuse.

The arrests took place during October at addresses in Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford and outside West Yorkshire, police said.

The men were held on suspicion of offences including rape, sexual assault and human trafficking involving five women who were children at the time. The alleged offences are believed to have taken place between 2000 and 2009.

The suspects have been interviewed and either released on bail or under investigation, a West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said.

Det Ch Insp Rob Stevens said the offences largely took place in the Kirklees area and the investigation had been "lengthy and complex".

"This large-scale inquiry demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investigating both current and non-recent sexual offences," he said.

"Child sexual abuse and exploitation is an abhorrent and heinous crime and one which affects some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and we have made large strides in recent years in Kirklees to bring persons involved in these dreadful crimes before the courts."

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