Five Arrested in Child Sex Abuse and Trafficking Probe at Travelling Fair

Showmans Park in Morris Street, Bolton Fair site: The men were at the event in Showmans Park in Morris Street, Bolton

BY STEPHEN HAYWARD  The Mirror

Five men were arrested after police probed claims of child abuse and trafficking at a travelling fair

The men, aged between 21 and 54, were arrested last week in the Bolton, Salford and Greater Manchester areas on suspicion of inciting children to engage in sexual activity and human trafficking.

The arrests follow a major investigation into a travelling fun fair based in Bolton that operates across the north west of England.

All the men have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Last week Rotherham’s Labour MP Sarah Champion said there could be up to a million victims of child sexual exploitation in the UK.

A teenage girl, who claims to be a victim of sexual abuse and alleged grooming, poses in Rotherham
 Experts say there could be up to a million victims of child sexual exploitation in the UK

She describes it as a “national disaster” and is demanding a task-force to fight the “horror.”

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, one year ago, the shaken MP has told how she ‘nearly lost her mind’ after victims turned to her for help - unable to trust the police or local council.

She is currently getting an average of 10 victims a week coming to her for help.

Fighting back tears she told how she feared having a nervous breakdown worried about failing the “amazing women” and her horror after finding out a manual for grooming existed for paedophiles.

MP Sarah Champion said: “We have changed legislation because there are manuals that go out telling people what to do.”

A proposed law change aims to “make it an offence to possess an item that contains advice or guidance about committing sexual offences against children”.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion