National Crime Agency officers have today arrested two men in relation to child sexual abuse offences being investigated as part of Operation Stovewood.

A 73-year-old man was detained in Rotherham this morning on suspicion of ten offences alleged to have taken place between 2005 and 2015.

Meanwhile as part of a separate investigation, NCA officers, supported by Leicestershire Police, arrested a 37-year-old man in Leicester on suspicion of arranging or facilitating another to commit rape between May and August 2004 in Sheffield.

Both are now being questioned.

Philip Marshall, the NCA’s senior investigating officer for Operation Stovewood, said:

“Officers continue to make good progress on Operation Stovewood with more than 170 arrests now made.

“I hope this continued activity sends out a message to victims that we are taking allegations seriously. We encourage all victims to come forward and give their accounts in the knowledge they will be listened to and they will supported throughout.

“If you believe that you were a victim of child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013 or might have information that might assist our investigations then please contact us.”

Operation Stovewood is the single largest law enforcement investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse (CSA) in the UK.

Officers are investigating allegations of CSA in and around Rotherham between 1997 and 2013 and it is a unique and unprecedented investigation.

Potential victims and witnesses can contact the team via the NCA website: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/Stovewood. All information will be treated in confidence.

 10 December 2020