Statement from the Deputy Mayor on the convictions of seven men for historical abuse in Rochdale

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, has issued a statement today (Friday 13 June) on the conviction of seven men following a dedicated investigation by Greater Manchester Police into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale.

Deputy Mayor Kate Green said:

"This is a fantastic result, both for the brave women who came forward to seek justice for what was done to them and for the GMP officers who have worked so hard to investigate these awful crimes.

"These verdicts are the result of a complex and painstaking investigation. With cases like these, it can often take years to piece together the evidence needed, supporting and working at the pace of the survivors decades after the abuse to secure a result like the one we've seen today.

"That the trial and the jury's deliberations have taken so long just goes to show how much evidence GMP collected which then had to be considered in court.

"Operation Lytton in Rochdale is a real example of what can be achieved when police, local authority and other partners across our system work together to safeguard survivors and provide them with the support they need.

"These verdicts are an example of the progress being made in Greater Manchester to tackle historic abuse, with recent police investigations leading to more than 110 arrests and over 70 years’ worth of convictions against abusers in the region.

"The mayor was clear when he commissioned the independent assurance review into child sexual exploitation back in 2017: time would be no barrier to justice, and perpetrators of abuse will face the consequences of their actions, no matter how long it takes to hold them accountable for their crimes."

Article Published: 13/06/2025 13:05 PM