Third ex-South Yorkshire Police officer arrested on suspicion of raping teenage girl

He has since been released on bail.

The arrest is part of an ongoing Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into complaints from survivors of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Rotherham relating to South Yorkshire Police officers.

This latest development follows the arrests of two other former officers late last year.

The two previous arrests were made on suspicion of sexual offences and misconduct in public office.

The alleged offending reportedly occurred between 1995 and 2002 while the former officers were both on and off duty.

Both officers were based in Rotherham at the time.

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The investigation is being carried out by South Yorkshire Police's major crime unit under IOPC direction and control.

The matter first came to light when SYP referred a complaint in October 2024.

This was followed by more complaints from a second woman in November and two further women in December.

A fifth complainant was referred to the IOPC in late January, with a sixth referral received last week.

The latest arrest relates to this sixth complaint.

IOPC Director Emily Barry said: "We are now investigating serious complaints by six women of sexual offending by former SYP officers.

"These complaints are being handled sensitively and thoroughly investigated and a third former officer has now been arrested."

She added: "At the end of the investigation we will decide whether a file of evidence will be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider criminal charges."