Two former police officers have been arrested as part of an investigation into child sex offences Rotherham dating to the 1990s.
South Yorkshire Police said the retired constable, now in his 60s, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, rape and three counts of indecent assault.
That officer is being investigated after allegations of child sexual abuse involving two girls between 1995 and 1999, a force spokesman said on Wednesday. The ages of the alleged victims have not been revealed.
Another former constable, now in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and indecent assault in connection with the 1995-96 incident.
The spokesman ordered both of the lawsuits to be filed.
He made the accusations while the officers, who both worked in Rotherham, were on duty.
A spokesman said a joint operation between South Yorkshire Police and the National Crime Agency’s Stovewood National Operation (NCA) Stovewood, which will investigate whether there are any further linked suspects, victims or reported offences.
Operation Stovewood is a major NCA investigation based on the latest Jay report, which found in 2014 that at least 1,400 girls were abused by gangs of men in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
Hayley Barnett, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, said: “The first priority in this case and always is the victims and survivors.
“Since the publication of Jay’s report 10 years ago, we have built a much deeper understanding of child abuse and sexual abuse, and will ensure that everyone is treated with sensitivity, compassion and respect for such crimes.
“It is never too late to report if you are a victim or survivor of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
“I am well aware of how difficult it is to report such crimes, especially when the suspects are former serving officers, but they are consistently committed to justice, according to your will, according to your will.”
The NCA said Operation Stovewood is one of the largest law enforcement efforts of its kind undertaken in the UK and estimates have put its costs at around £90m.
The NCA announced last year that they would be handling new allegations from Yorkshire police rather than Operation Stovewood, saying they had involved more than 1,100 children in abuse between 1997 and 2013, almost all of them girls.
South Yorkshire Police said it had reported to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in connection with the latest allegations.