Ten more arrests in investigation into Rotherham grooming gangs

Ten more men have been arrested as part of an investigation into the abuse of four girls in Rotherham, alleged to have taken place around 20 years ago.

This followed the arrest of five men in Rotherham and Leeds between July 28th and July 30th, with another suspect being detained last week — all as part of the Operation Stovewood investigation into grooming offences which took place between 1997 and 2013, launched in response to the Alex Jay inquiry into the mismanagement of such crimes by the authorities.

The NCA said that “around 150 people have now been arrested as part of Operation Stovewood” and that “Jail terms of almost 250 years have been handed down to the 20 people convicted so far” — although this is somewhat misleading, given 250 years averages just 12.5 years across 20 people.

All those detained were aged between 35 and 53, and were arrested on suspicion of offences relating to the abuse of girls who would have been between aged between 11 and 16 at the time.
 
All were questioned and released while investigations continue.