A fourth former South Yorkshire Police officer has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into non-recent child exploitation and abuse in Rotherham. The National Crime Agency (NCA) is leading the inquiry, which has seen 10 victims come forward alleging sexual abuse by former officers of the force.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) provided an update on the NCA's investigation. The probe focuses on allegations stemming from the 1990s and early 2000s.
In July 2025, the BBC reported that five women, who were victims of grooming gangs as children in Rotherham, also reported abuse by serving police officers during that period. One woman recounted being raped from the age of 12 by a police officer in a marked car, who allegedly threatened to return her to the gang if she did not comply.
A former officer in his 60s was arrested in June on suspicion of non-recent child sexual abuse offences. He was released on conditional bail pending further investigation. Three other former officers have been arrested since December 2024. These arrests were on suspicion of historical sexual offences, including attempted rape, indecent assault, and misconduct in a public office. The alleged crimes occurred between 1995 and 2004 while the individuals were serving constables. No charges have been filed.
A 2014 report by Professor Alexis Jay into Rotherham's grooming gangs found that at least 1,400 children were abused in the town between 1997 and 2013.