Child sexual abuse ring in Halifax: 25 men charged - police reaction
Twenty five men have been charged with child sex offences against two girls in Calderdale following a major police operation.
In what police say is the largest child sexual exploitation (CSE) investigation in the country - bigger than high profile cases in Rochdale and Rotherham - the men face a combined total of 59 charges, including rape, sexual activity with a child under 16 and trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
The men, who are mainly from Halifax, are accused of committing the offences between 2006 and 2011.
A year-long investigation eventually saw them arrested in May 2013 and they were all formally charged at Halifax Police Station on Wednesday. They have all been released on bail and are due to appear at Calderdale Magistrates Court next Thursday.
The allegations centre around two girls, who are believed to have been in Calderdale Council’s care when the men were arrested, although the majority of them relate to one girl. It is thought the girls were as young as 13 when they were allegedly abused.
The majority of the men charged are from the Asian community and there are fears that the investigation could impact on race relations in Halifax.
However, Temporary Chief Superintendent Owen West, District Commander for Calderdale, said there are no immediate plans to heighten patrols around the town.
“Our issue going forward is around community engagement and how we respond to any issues that come on the back of these charges,” he said.
“For a period of time it’s highly likely that Calderdale will be under the spotlight a little bit.
“If we get increased tension or anger we have got plans to meet that. But we’re not going to go out in traditional high visibility yellow jackets because there’s no need for that at this stage.
“We’re very much seeing it as business as usual for now.” ...
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