Social worker arrested in child exploitation inquiry

A SOCIAL worker has been arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a child following an ongoing investigation into child sexual exploitation.

Operation Green Jacket was launched in May 2019, as a multiagency investigation into child exploitation during 2004/2005, including a fresh investigation into the abuse and death of 15-year-old Victoria Agoglia.

A damning official report, published in January 2020, revealed how children were raped and abused by up to 100 members of a Manchester grooming gang. Despite police and social workers knowing what was happening, they weren’t stopped.

On April 30, a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a child when in a position of trust, and misconduct in a public office.

The man in question is employed by Manchester council’s Children Social Care department. He has been bailed pending further inquiries and has been suspended from his duties.

A report investigating the original probe into child sexual exploitation in south Manchester, known as Operation

Augusta, was commissioned by Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham. That report found:

Social workers knew that one 15-year-old girl, Victoria Agoglia, was being forcibly injected with heroin, but failed to act. She died two months later.

Abusers were allowed to freely pick up and have sex with Victoria and other children from city care homes, ‘in plain sight’ of officials.

Greater Manchester Police dropped an operation that identified up to 97 potential suspects and at least 57 potential victims. Eight of the men went on to later assault or rape girls.

As recently as August 2018, the chief constable refused to reopen the dropped operation.

Following the findings of the report, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins requested a peer review to analyse its approach during Operation Augusta.

A number of recommendations were made which police say have been implemented by the new investigation team, to ensure the operation is as ‘robust’ as possible to support victims and bring offenders to justice.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, GMP say Operation Green

Jacket remains a top priority, with officers continuing to provide support to a number of victims, as well as identifying a number of suspects.

Anyone who has been affected by this case and wishes to speak to police, or anyone with information that could assist with inquiries, can contact the investigation team via opgreenjacket@ gmp.police.uk