Three men in their 80s have been arrested as part of an investigation into historical child abuse in Bradford, police have confirmed. The suspects were detained on suspicion of sexual offences against children, with inquiries focusing on allegations dating back several decades.
West Yorkshire Police said the arrests were made following a lengthy investigation into abuse at children's homes and other institutions in the Bradford area. The force has not disclosed further details about the specific allegations or the locations involved, but confirmed that the men remain in custody for questioning.
The arrests come amid growing national scrutiny of historical child abuse, with a recent all-party parliamentary report condemning the lack of support and justice for survivors. The report, published this week, found that only 54% of survivors had reported their abuse to police, and two in five were not taken seriously.
Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the national lead for child protection, previously described institutional child sexual abuse in the 1970s and 1980s as an 'epidemic', warning that the true scale remains unknown. The Bradford investigation is one of several ongoing cases across the UK seeking to address past failings.
