Victims of the Rotherham grooming gangs have come forward with allegations that police officers also targeted them, prompting a criminal investigation by South Yorkshire Police.

As part of this investigation, three police officers have been arrested in connection with abuse allegations that reportedly occurred between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, during the time when children were being exploited by grooming gangs.

Five women, who were victims of these grooming gangs as children, have specifically accused police officers of abusing them during that same period.

Many victims have expressed a deep mistrust of the police, with some withdrawing their testimonies due to fear and previous experiences of being let down by law enforcement.

To support their claims against the police, a specialized legal firm, Switalskis Solicitors, is representing the victims and collecting testimonies.

Assistant Chief Constable Hayley Barnett has stated that the interests of victims are the priority in the investigation and emphasized the need to rebuild trust within the community.

The South Yorkshire Police confirmed that 17 testimonies have been collected, and the investigation is being overseen by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The IOPC has previously criticized South Yorkshire Police for inadequate investigations into child sexual abuse allegations, noting that no officers faced serious consequences for their actions.

Prof Alexis Jay, who led an independent inquiry into the abuse, expressed shock that South Yorkshire Police is investigating its own officers and called for an independent authority to manage the investigation.

One victim, known as Willow, recounted an officer threatening her into sexual acts, claiming he would inform the gangs if she did not comply, while another reported being raped by an officer in a police car.

Victims have provided accounts of police officers abusing girls as young as 11 and allegedly collaborating with grooming gangs by ignoring their activities or supplying them with drugs.

The scale of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham was highlighted in a 2014 report by Professor Alexis Jay, revealing that at least 1,400 children were abused, predominantly by British-Pakistani men, with authorities failing to act due to fears of accusations of racism.