Fact Check: Operation Lytton, an investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale, has resulted in 37 individuals being charged since it began in 2015.

Fact Check: "Operation Lytton, an investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale, has resulted in 37 individuals being charged since it began in 2015."

What We Know

Operation Lytton is a dedicated investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale. Recently, seven men were convicted for their roles in the systematic abuse of vulnerable children between 2001 and 2006, following this investigation (source-1, source-2). The Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Kate Green, highlighted that these convictions are part of a broader effort to tackle historic abuse, with GMP reporting over 110 arrests and more than 70 years of convictions against abusers in the region since 2017 (source-1). However, there is no direct evidence in the sources provided that specifically confirms the claim of 37 individuals being charged as a result of Operation Lytton since its inception in 2015.

Analysis

The claim that "37 individuals have been charged" as a result of Operation Lytton lacks direct support from the available sources. While it is confirmed that seven men were recently convicted, the broader context of the investigation indicates that there have been many arrests and convictions related to child sexual exploitation in Rochdale, but the specific number of 37 charges is not substantiated (source-1, source-2).

The sources used for this fact-check include official statements from the Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, which are credible and reliable. However, the absence of specific data regarding the total number of individuals charged under Operation Lytton suggests that the claim may be an overstatement or misinterpretation of the available information.

Conclusion

The claim that "Operation Lytton has resulted in 37 individuals being charged since it began in 2015" is Partially True. While it is accurate that Operation Lytton has led to significant convictions and arrests in relation to child sexual exploitation, the specific figure of 37 individuals charged is not directly supported by the evidence available. The investigation has indeed been extensive, but the exact number of charges attributed to it remains unclear.

Sources

1. Statement from the Deputy Mayor on the convictions ...
2. Seven men convicted for sexually exploiting children in ...
3. operation-span-report-january-2024-v3.pdf
4. Rochdale child sex abuse ring
5. Seven men convicted of sexual exploitation of two teenage ...
6. Men who groomed girls for sex in Rochdale brought to justice
7. Seven men who groomed vulnerable girls in Rochdale ...
8. Seven men face 'lengthy' sentences for sexual abuse of ...