By Dayo Ade Olusola|M10News| Crime Desk|8 August 2025
The National Crime Agency (NCA) will now lead an investigation into claims that former South Yorkshire Police (SYP) officers were involved in historic child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, the police watchdog has confirmed.
The inquiry was initially being run by SYP’s major crime unit, with oversight from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
To date, three ex-officers have been arrested as part of the operation.
However, survivors of exploitation in the South Yorkshire town said last month they had “no faith” in SYP handling the allegations.
In July, five women told the BBC they were groomed and abused by organised gangs as children — and also sexually assaulted by officers.
One survivor said she was raped from the age of 12 in a marked police car, and that the officer threatened to return her to her abusers if she resisted.
In response to those concerns, and to remove any perception of bias, the IOPC said on Friday it had agreed with SYP to hand control of the investigation to the NCA.
The NCA is a national law enforcement agency specialising in tackling complex and serious crime, including historic abuse cases.
The IOPC will continue to direct the investigation, despite the change in lead agency.
A spokesperson for the watchdog said the move “may provide further reassurance to victim-survivors” but stressed it remained confident there was no conflict of interest in the SYP-led process.
South Yorkshire Police should not be leading an investigation into its own former officers, according to Prof Alexis Jay: Stephen Fildes / BBC
Emily Barry, IOPC regional director, said: “Victim-survivors are always at the centre of our investigations, and it’s extremely important that they have trust and confidence in the process.”
She added: “We recognise the concerns raised about SYP investigating serious allegations against former SYP officers, and we want to ensure survivors feel able to come forward.”
The investigation will be handled by officers from Operation Stovewood — the NCA’s decade-long inquiry into child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
Operation Stovewood has so far secured the convictions of 47 offenders, with prison sentences totalling more than 1,300 years, including concurrent terms.
It is separate from Operation Linden, an IOPC probe into how SYP handled abuse reports during the same period, which in 2022 concluded the force had “fundamentally failed” in its duty to protect vulnerable children.
More than 1,400 children were estimated to have been abused by men in Rotherham: Getty Images
Law firm Switalskis, which represents survivors, welcomed the NCA takeover but said it remained “concerned” the IOPC would still direct the investigation, given whistleblower criticism of Operation Linden earlier this year.
“Nevertheless, we view this as a step in the right direction and hope more survivors will now feel able to approach the NCA,” the firm said.
Philip Marshall, who leads Operation Stovewood, said victims would remain “at the heart” of the inquiry and urged anyone with information to contact the NCA.
Editing by M10News Crime Desk | Contact: crime@m10news.com
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