Operation tackling sex abuse expands to Rochdale

Oldham’s award-winning Operation Messenger team, set up to tackle sexual exploitation of young girls, is being replicated in Rochdale.

The team was established in 2007 as a collaboration between Greater Manchester Police, social workers, council children’s staff and the charity Barnardo’s.

Now more officers will target older men who groom vulnerable victims, sometimes children in care, and go on to abuse them.

Det Supt Phil Owen, the force’s lead officer for safeguarding children, told the BBC: “I think we have to understand that it’s a very complex picture of criminality. And it manifests itself in all types of crime whether it be assaults, whether it be sexual abuse or whether it be kidnapping.

“So in terms of how widespread it is across Greater Manchester it’s difficult at this time to currently ascertain.”

Victims are often showered with gifts, affection and attention they previously did not have, said Mr Owen.

In 2008 the Messenger team won the Excellence award from Greater Manchester’s late Chief Constable Michael Todd.