police at the scene
Greater Manchester police have charged six men as part of an ongoing investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rochdale iStock

Six men have been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. The charges relate to offences committed between 2004 and 2008 against three victims, who were aged between 14 and 16 at the time of the abuse.

Joshim Miah, 31, of Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of trafficking a person within the UK for sexual exploitation. Mohammed Sadeer, 27, of Brimrod Lane, Rochdale, and Naheem Akhram, 39, of Manley Road, Rochdale, are both charged with one count of rape. A fourth man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with four counts of rape.

Ittefaq Yousaf, 25, of Stanley Street, Rochdale, has been charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of causing/inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. The sixth man, Arfan Iqbal, 25, of Park Road, Rochdale, has been charged with one count of attempted rape.

All six men are due to appear before Bury and Rochdale Magistrates' Court on 21 January 2016.

Assistant chief constable Rob Potts at Greater Manchester Police said: "This case is another that has been launched by Operation Doublet, an investigation into CSE that arose following the 2011 investigation into CSE in Rochdale. To date, 83 people have been arrested, 15 have been interviewed under caution and prosecutions have been launched against 25 people.

"These types of investigations remain incredibly complex and challenging but at the heart of our considerations is the welfare of the victims and we have a team of experienced and dedicated officers supporting them through the process.

"The sexual exploitation of children and young people is the absolute priority for Greater Manchester Police and its partners. Since 2010 we have moved considerable resources into child protection and the investigation of sexual exploitation and the continuance of Operation Doublet is a symbol of our steadfast resolve to investigate these offences, no matter the time frame and to ensure that where there is a case to answer, it is brought before the Courts."