Four men arrested in connection with child sexual exploitation in Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Four men have been arrested as part of an investigation into child sexual exploitation in Manchester city centre. The men, aged between 18 and 28, were detained following an investigation into reports of concerns about three young girls, which has been ongoing since January.

Police said two men have been arrested on suspicion of causing or inciting sexual exploitation of a child. They remain in police custody for questioning.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of arranging or facilitating sexual exploitation of a child. They have been bailed pending further enquiries. READ MORE: Police issue statement after video shot near Greater Manchester mosque sparks 'concerns' The arrests form part of Operation Luka, a multi-agency operation allowing police and partners to 'work collaboratively' to tackle the sexual exploitation of children and young people.

Detective Inspector Chris Chadderton, Senior Investigating Officer for this case said: “We know that it can be daunting to report incidents of sexual abuse, but I want to reassure the public or anyone affected that we take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously. “Victims and survivors of sexual exploitation are at the centre of any investigations we take on and it is essential that it progresses at a speed which they are comfortable with, to ensure that they feel wholly supported throughout. “Our message will always be that we’re ready when they are, that they’ll be listened to, and that they’ll be taken seriously.” GMP can be contacted via gmp.police.uk or 101.