Further arrests have been made at a religious group in Crewe following allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery. More than 500 police officers descended on Webb House, home to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, at around 8.50am on April 29. Cheshire Police said a "detailed investigation" had been carried out, and that several members of the religious group had been arrested.
Latest Arrests
The force has now confirmed two further suspects have been arrested. On Monday, July 20, a 53-year-old Mexican woman was arrested in Middlewich on suspicion of human trafficking offences and child neglect. A 43-year-old British man was arrested in the Wilmslow area on suspicion of child neglect offences and attempting to pervert the course of justice. A 43-year-old American woman who was arrested following the warrant at the former orphanage on April 29 was re-arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. All three suspects have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Officers have also applied for a Stalking and Trafficking Risk Order (STRO) against the 53-year-old woman. The application is set to be heard at Chester Magistrates Court on Thursday, July 23.
Ongoing Investigation
The arrests form part of an ongoing investigation into members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light group, which began in March 2026. This has since raised concerns in relation to the welfare of children who were members of the group. Twelve other suspects have been arrested as part of the overall investigation. All remain on conditional bail which prevents them from entering Crewe.
Detective Inspector Eleanor Atkinson, of the Major Investigations Team at Cheshire Constabulary, said: "During our ongoing enquiries concerns have come to light in relation to the welfare of the children at Webb House which has resulted in today's arrests. I understand the concern that these new arrests are likely to cause and I would like to reassure local residents that the appropriate safeguarding measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of children who are members of the group and there is not believed to be any risk to the wider community."
"None of the allegations we have received relate to anyone outside of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, and all the suspects we have arrested are also members of the religious group. While all the suspects we have arrested are members of the group, as we have stated from the beginning, this is not an investigation into the religion. Our investigation solely focuses on the serious allegations which have been reported to us."
Atkinson added: "While our investigation continues, we continue to remind everyone that this case is likely to take some time, and we would ask people not to speculate." Anyone with any information which could assist with the investigation is asked to contact Cheshire police at Public Portal (https://mipp.police.uk/operation/07CH19D14-PO1) or call 101.
