Police launch new child sex abuse investigation

The Operation Stovewood investigation — requested by South Yorkshire Chief Constable David Crompton following the publication of the Jay Report — will have two distinct stages, starting with intelligence gathering until next spring.

No public appeal for victims and survivors to come forward will be made until the initial work is complete.

The investigation is not responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct against police officers — that is being looked at by the Independent Police Conduct Commission.

Once an open-ended criminal investigation is underway, it could focus on hundreds of offenders or perpetrators, the NCA said.

The team will liaise with other agencies and investigations, including Louise Casey, the head of the government’s Troubled Families unit, who is conducting an independent inspection of children's services in Rotherham.

NCA director Trevor Pearce, a former chief constable, who will head the investigation, said: “The first stage of Operation Stovewood will identify and examine relevant material held by South Yorkshire Police and other bodies in order to scope the nature and requirements of an investigation into child sexual exploitation identified by the Alexis Jay report.

“We will also oversee a review of all current relevant investigations being carried out by South Yorkshire Police into non-familial CSE in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, identifying any opportunities for early intervention to prevent further harm and to identify and arrest suspects.”

Meanwhile a full investigation team will be established, including a senior investigating officer and a major incident room based between Rotherham and Sheffield.

The team will work with Rotherham Borough Council, charities and other organisations, to encourage victims and witnesses to come forward and to ensure they receive appropriate support.

Mr Pearce said it was important that intelligence gathering and review activity took place before the new fully independent investigation in the spring.

Anyone with information about current threats to children, matters being investigated by detectives or in relation to non-recent allegations of CSE should continue to contact police, he said.

It is understood the team has already had meetings with Ms Casey, Prof Alexis Jay and the three Rotherham area MPs.