Three men have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Oldham. The arrests were made by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) on 17 July 2025, following warrants executed at addresses in Oldham, Salford, and Longsight.

The men - aged 33, 51, and 52 - were arrested on suspicion of raping a child under the age of 16. The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2011 and 2014 and relate to disclosures made by three survivors who are now supporting the investigation.

The arrests form part of Operation Sherwood, GMP’s dedicated investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in Oldham. Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker praised the survivors for their courage in coming forward and reaffirmed GMP’s commitment to pursuing justice, stating:

“The girls who were abused in Oldham over a decade ago are no longer children, and we are listening to them. We have learned from our past mistakes and applied our much deeper understanding of CSE toward taking rigorous steps forward in secure outcomes that they are satisfied with.”

Operation Sherwood was launched in 2022 and is supported by a specialist team of nearly 100 officers. The operation continues to investigate multiple suspects.

At Switalskis, we represent survivors of abuse across England and Wales with compassion, specialist expertise, and a deep understanding of the lasting impact these crimes can have. We recognise that speaking out, especially about abuse that happened many years ago, can be incredibly difficult. This case is a powerful reminder that justice can still be achieved, no matter how much time has passed.

If you have been affected by abuse, support is available. You can contact the Rape Crisis helpline 24/7 at 0808 500 2222 or visit 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk .

If you would like to discuss your case confidentially, please contact Sally Smith on 01924 882000 or by email at sally.smith@switalskis.com  and she will be happy to help.