Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed the next phase of Operation Stovewood which will see any new investigations into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham being undertaken by South Yorkshire Police.

Operation Stovewood began in 2014 following the review by Professor Alexis Jay into failings of South Yorkshire Police and other agencies in their handling of reports of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. Over the last nine years the NCA has made more than 200 arrests and secured 26 convictions, with more than 50 active investigations ongoing. It is expected that these investigations will continue into 2027.

From 1 January 2024, any new investigations will be handled by South Yorkshire Police.

D Billings said: “When I took office in October 2014, it was on the back of the revelations within the Jay report.

“The NCA established Operation Stovewood to identify potential victims and undertake the investigations. This was the right decision in order for the investigation to be independent from South Yorkshire Police and allow victims to have trust in the process and the confidence to come forward.

“Since that time, South Yorkshire Police is a transformed force.  It has undergone a great deal of reflection, learning and changes and is now in a very different place.

“In 2022, an independent review carried out by the Chair of the Children’s Safeguarding Board in Rotherham, Jenny Myers, found South Yorkshire Police’s systems processes and meeting structures to be effective and robust and praised the quality of reports and investigations undertaken by the force as well as the partnership between South Yorkshire Police and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council the Evolve Team.

“It should also be noted that, at the beginning of this year, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services rated the force as ‘Outstanding’ in the area of Protecting Vulnerable People.

“Whilst there is always work to do, victims and survivors of CSE and residents of South Yorkshire can be assured that any new cases reported will be thoroughly investigated to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, and that victims will continue to receive a very high standard of support.”