Timeline for activity on child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester

This timeline sets out the action that Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has taken to help the Greater Manchester system to support victims to get justice, face up to past systemic failures and ensure perpetrators face the consequences of their crimes.

It also sets out key milestones in investigations undertaken by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) national announcements and other context important to the timeline of activity taken by various public bodies against Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in Greater Manchester.

2017

May 8^th, 2017: Andy Burnham elected Mayor of Greater Manchester

May 16^th, 2017: BBC One broadcast Three Girls, a drama telling the story of three children who were groomed and sexually abused by a group of men in Rochdale. The series was based on the May 2012 court case which saw nine men convicted of sex trafficking and other offences including rape and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child. The series was made with the co-operation of the young women whose stories it told.

In the days following the broadcast, the Mayor asked the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to explore what powers were available to it as a public body to investigate the safeguarding failures portrayed in the drama Three Girls. The organisation began to explore what such a review could look like.  This work was led by Baroness Beverley Hughes, then Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.

July 3^rd, 2017: BBC One broadcast The Betrayed Girls, a documentary in which – for the first time - the women whose stories were featured in Three Girls spoke out. The programme also featured Sara Rowbotham from the Rochdale Crisis Intervention Team, former Greater Manchester Police Detective Constable Maggie Oliver and the then Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West Nazir Afzal, as well as victims who had not shared their stories before.

July 5^th, 2017: Following the emergence of fresh allegations in the BBC documentary The Betrayed Girls, the Mayor formally tasked Baroness Beverley Hughes, then Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to look at the issues it raised as part of her work on a potential review and report back with her findings.

October 13^th, 2017: As a result of Baroness Beverley Hughes’ initial review, the Mayor commissioned an independent review into historic child sexual exploitation (CSE) cases in Greater Manchester to be led by nationally recognised independent experts, Malcolm Newsom and Gary Ridgway.

The remit included:   

• Reviewing the decision to shut down Operation Augusta, a police investigation into CSE in Manchester in 2005 which then Detective Constable Maggie Oliver worked on. This operation was set up in response to the death of 15-year-old victim, Victoria Agoglia in 2003.
• Assessing the effectiveness of Operation Span in bringing perpetrators to justice. This was a police investigation into CSE in Rochdale between 2004 and 2012.
• Assessing the effectiveness of current policies and processes now in place for partnership working, set up to tackle CSE in Greater Manchester in 2013
• Ensuring that Greater Manchester has the right culture and best possible systems in place to protect children from sexual exploitation (CSE) and support victims.
• Providing a detailed timeline of events, actions and decisions taken in previous reviews and reports

2018

Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway conducted thousands of hours of rigorous research as part of their independent review, including accessing and analysing hundreds of case files, meeting minutes, investigation reports, emails and other communications, and IT searches.

2019 

May 2019: GMP launched Operation Green Jacket, based on the independent review’s emerging findings into the decision to close Operation Augusta. Green Jacket was a multi-agency investigation that included key external partners such as Manchester City Council children and adult social services, NHS Mental Health, and St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

2020

January 14^th, 2020: Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway published the first report from their independent review, which was commissioned by the Mayor. It focused on child sexual exploitation in Manchester and led to the reopening of two cases featured in the BBC documentary, The Betrayed Girls.  

Child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester

2021

March 2021: GMP launched a Force CSE Team, a new unit to investigate historic child sexual exploitation. Temporary DCC Mabs Hussain announced the unit was conducting three major investigations into historic abuse in Manchester and Rochdale, including Operations Exmoor and Green Jacket. The unit aimed to bring justice to victims and was set up to have strategic oversight of all multi-victim/multi-suspect investigations across Greater Manchester. The unit worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, social services, mental health services, and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors. It submitted evidence files for more than 60 individuals to the CPS for consideration.

August 2021: The Mayor of Greater Manchester made a major investment in bringing perpetrators of CSE to justice, allocating £3.1 million over the next three years to GMP’s CSE Major Investigation Team (formerly called the Force CSE Unit). This had two objectives:

• To investigate large scale CSE investigations
• To support large scale and complex CSE investigations across the Force by leading on best investigational practices, victim and perpetrator risk management models, CPD support and district governance support.

2022

March 16^th, 2022: Seven men from Rochdale and one from Blackpool were charged with a total of 82 offences, including rape and sexual activity with children. The charges were brought thanks to GMP’s Operation Lytton, which was launched in 2015, into non-recent offences in Rochdale, and built on existing joint working between GMP, Rochdale Council and other partner organisations.  

June 20^th, 2022: Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway published the second report of their independent review, which was commissioned by the Mayor. The findings focused on historic safeguarding practices in Oldham, investigating concerns raised online about local taxi services and the targeting of children in residential care settings and through shisha establishments between 2011 and 2014.. Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway identified serious failings in the handling of some cases and found that some children had been failed by the agencies that were meant to protect them because safeguarding procedures had not been properly followed. However, the review team found no evidence either through interviews or documentary review to suggest senior managers or councillors sought to cover-up the existence of CSE, nor was there widespread CSE in residential settings, in shisha bars or in the local taxi trade.

The review into historic safeguarding practices in Oldham.

June 2022: In response to the second report of the independent review commissioned by the Mayor, which focused on Oldham, GMP launched Operation Sherwood to investigate potential offences against 10 survivors highlighted in the report. The investigation was to be conducted by the Force CSE MIT Team.

July 22^nd, 2022: The Mayor wrote an open letter to the residents of Oldham, outlining the independent review’s findings, explaining what action was being taken in response and providing details of how to contact the investigation team and support organisations.

2023

January 2023: The Solicitor General granted permission for Victoria Agoglia’s family to apply to the High Court for a new inquest. Victoria Agoglia was 15 when she died of a heroin overdose in 2003, administered by a male who was later convicted for injecting Victoria with a noxious substance and was jailed for three and a half years.

May 2^nd, 2023: As a result of Operation Lytton, which investigated historic CSE in Rochdale, 11 men were charged with a total of 103 offences, including rape and trafficking for sexual exploitation.  One of the men was from Manchester, two from Oldham and the remainder from Rochdale.

June 30^th 2023: With the third stage of Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway’s independent review already underway, Greater Manchester’s ten council leaders endorsed the Mayor’s proposal for the fourth and final stage to focus on current practice. At a meeting of the GMCA, they agreed it should seek assurance that Greater Manchester councils and police have the right culture and best possible systems in place to protect children from sexual exploitation.

Mayor and leaders endorse final stage of Greater Manchester’s independent child sexual exploitation review

August 17^th 2023: As a result of Operation Lytton, which investigates historic CSE in Rochdale, five of the eight defendants charged in March 2022 were found guilty of 22 counts relating to CSE.

August 31^st 2023: As a result of Operation Sherwood, which investigates historic CSE in Oldham, a 52-year-old Oldham man was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual activity with a child and grooming. 

August 31^st, 2023: Operation Lytton, Rochdale – The five defendants charged in March 2022 were sentenced to a cumulative period of imprisonment of 71.5 years.

2024

January 15^th, 2024: Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway publish the third stage of their independent review, which was commissioned by the Mayor. This focussed on Operation Span, which investigated non-recent CSE in Rochdale. The independent report found compelling evidence of widespread organised sexual exploitation of children within Rochdale from 2004 to 2012, and failures by statutory agencies at the time to respond appropriately.

Review published into Operation Span and non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale

March 7^th, 2024: The High Court quashed the original inquest verdict into the death of Victoria Agoglia and ordered a new inquest.

May 31^st 2024: A fresh inquest into the death of Victoria Agoglia began. At the pre-inquest review hearing, counsel for GMP advised the coroner that five men had been arrested for CSE offences against Victoria, and that they remained under investigation.  The inquest was adjourned.

July 12^th, 2024: The Mayor announced that HMICFRS would conduct the final stage of the independent review supported by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission. This was to give the review stronger statutory powers to access the sensitive information needed. By using these statutory powers, it could ensure that the review was comprehensive and would not prejudice any active police investigations or court proceedings.

September 3^rd, 2024: A 44-year-old man from Stockport was charged with three counts of engaging in underage sex with a 14-year-old girl, two counts of causing a girl under 18 to become a prostitute, and one count of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.  The alleged offences were committed between May 2004 and Feb 2005 and he was arrested as part of Operation Green Jacket.

September 24^th, 2024: GMP announced they had arrested a further seven men for offences including rape and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.  They stated that this brought the total arrested and under investigation as part of Operation Green Jacket, which focused on CSE in Manchester, to 64.

December 13^th, 2024: HMICFRS published their Child Protection Inspection of GMP and interim findings in respect of their inspection of the Greater Manchester Complex Safeguarding peer review programme. HMICFRS described the force as having strong leadership and governance, which has had a positive effect on outcomes for children, and strong partnership working between GMP and the wider safeguarding system in Greater Manchester.

Response to the letter of interim findings on Greater Manchester’s multi-agency complex safeguarding peer review process and the GMP Child Protection Inspection report

2025

January 12^th, 2025: In an interview with BBC Radio Manchester, the Mayor called for a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation as only a national inquiry would have the statutory powers to compel witnesses and ensure full accountability for failures.
“Let me be absolutely honest with people, there will always be limitation to what you can do with a local inquiry and I will admit there are limitations to the review that I set up because it cannot compel. The independent review team that led our inquiries they could not compel somebody to speak to them…and that is part of why I say there’s a case for a national inquiry, not just into Oldham but into this issue more broadly.”

January 16^th 2025: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a rapid national audit into group-based child sexual exploitation, to be led by Baroness Louise Casey.

March 6^th, 2025: The 44-year-old man from Stockport charged in September 2024 plead guilty to all three charges against him.  Case adjourned to 25 June for sentencing.

March 11th, 2025 – A man from Rochdale was jailed for 28 years as part of Operation Lytton in Rochdale, having been found guilty of ten counts of rape and a number of other counts of sexual abuse.

April 8^th, 2025: GMP arrested a 40-year-old man for CSE offences from 2005 and 2006 as part of Operation Sherwood in Oldham.  He was subsequently bailed with significant child protection conditions to adhere to.

April 30^th, 2025: GMP arrested three men aged between 35 and 64 from Bolton, Rochdale and Oldham as part of Operation Sherwood on suspicion of rape, meeting a child following sexual grooming and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity or trafficking. 

June 4^th, 2025: GMP arrested a further five men in Oldham, Tameside and Manchester as part of Operation Sherwood on suspicion of rape, relating to offences between 2011 and 2014.

June 13^th 2025: The seven men charged in May 2023 as part of Operation Lytton in Rochdale were convicted of 50 offences committed between 2001 and 2006. Sentencing will take place in September. One of the men was convicted in his absence and a “wanted appeal” has been issued

June 15^th 2025: Government announced a national inquiry – Mayor welcomed the news of a national inquiry ahead of the publication of the Casey rapid audit into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse (see below). He said: “"I have always been open about the limitations of local inquiries which cannot compel those in authority to give evidence. This is why I have been calling for a national inquiry, including a focus on the accountability of decision-makers, and made the case for this to Baroness Casey's review. It is crucial that victims are now consulted about the terms of reference for the national inquiry, so that it provides them with all the answers and accountability they have been seeking.”

June 16^th 2025: Casey rapid audit published – Baroness Louise Casey publishes the findings of her rapid audit into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse. As part of this, she spoke with the Mayor, Oldham Council, Greater Manchester Police and others in the region, supportive of GMP’s data collection and its approach to investigating child sexual exploitation. Following a discussion with the Mayor, she also recommended a national inquiry.

June 26^th 2025: 44-year-old man from Stockport sentenced to 13 years and 1 month following his conviction on 6^th March 2025. 

June 26^th 2025: Three 24-year-old men from Chorley given suspended sentences for sexual offences against an underage girl groomed over social media in 2018.

June 27^th 2025:  54-year-old man from Rochdale, currently in custody awaiting trial, charged with eight further offences, including rape and indecent assault of a girl under the age of 16.

June 30^th 2025: 38-year-old man from Rochdale arrested on suspicion of non-recent rape of a girl under the age of 10, as part of Operation Sherwood (see above)

July 1^st 2025: 77-year-old man from Surrey was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child in Oldham in 2017.

July 3^rd 2025: His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services published the final instalment of the Mayor’s independent review, alongside a supporting report from Ofsted. These reports aimed to assess improvements made by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Greater Manchester’s 10 councils and its local health and care services, as well as the effectiveness of multi-agency responses to child sexual exploitation. The reports found “significant improvements” have been made by GMP and the wider system in investigations of exploitation in recent years and highlighted several areas in which the region is leading the way in tackling this crime.

Inspection of Greater Manchester Police and its safeguarding partners’ approach to investigating allegations of child criminal and sexual exploitation - His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (external website)

July 7th 2025: 44-year-old man from Bury was jailed for 14 years for two counts of rape of a girl under the age of 16 and four counts of indecent assault for offences occurring in the early 2000s.

July 14^th 2025: 46-year-old man from Rochdale jailed for 13 years for nine sexual offences, including rape and sexual assault of a child in the early 2000s

July 17^th 2025: Three men arrested on suspicion of rape of a child under 16 between 2011 and 2014, at addresses in Oldham, Salford and Longsight as part of Operation Sherwood (see above).

July 27^th 2025: 61-year-old man jailed for seven years for seven counts of indecent assault against three victims between 1987 and 1998 in Rochdale.

September 4^th 2025: 47-year-old man jailed for 13 years for five sexual offences against children that took place between 2001 and 2004, and again in 2019.

September 5^th 2025: 26-year-old man jailed for 16 and a half years for 14 offences, including rape of a child under 13, that took place between 2020 and 2022.