Two former police officers have been arrested over complaints from four victims of child sexual abuse in Rotherham.
The alleged crimes are said to have been committed by two former South Yorkshire Police constables who were based in the town.
The offending is said to have happened while they were both on and off duty.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealed that a retired officer is being investigated following allegations of child sexual exploitation against two girls between 1995 and 1999.
Operation Linden, the IOPC’s investigation into South Yorkshire Police, was launched after a 2014 report exposed that at least 1,400 children were abused in the South Yorkshire townPAThe officer in his 60s was arrested in October on suspicion of misconduct in public office, attempted rape and three counts of indecent assault.
He was arrested again this month regarding reported sexual crimes against a third complainant between 1997 and 2002.
The second former officer in his 50s was arrested in December on suspicion of sexual assault and misconduct in public office and one count of indecent assault over reported incidents from 1995 to 1996.
The police watchdog launched Operation Linden in the aftermath of the 2014 Alexis Jay Report.
MORE LIKE THIS:
Professor Jay found that 1,400 children were victims of sexual abuse in Rotherham by predominantly British-Pakistani men between 1997 and 2013.
The investigations also looked into how South Yorkshire Police responded to allegations of child sexual abuse in the town.
Emily Barry, IOPC Director said: “When we completed the Operation Linden investigations in 2022, into how South Yorkshire Police investigated reports of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Rotherham, we acknowledged that there may be further complaints from survivors.”
She added that this had come to their attention after receiving a referral of a complaint in October from South Yorkshire Police.
Professor Jay found that 1,400 children were victims of sexual abuse in Rotherham
PA
“This was followed by more complaints from a second woman in November and complaints from two further women in December, which were referred to us by South Yorkshire Police as a result of their initial enquiries.”
She asserted that IOPC would take swift action in probing the allegations.
She said: “Clearly these are very serious complaints and we will ensure they are thoroughly and robustly investigated.”