AROUND 70 people are likely to be arrested in the next year in relation to historic grooming offences in the Bradford district.

Operation Dalesway was set up by West Yorkshire Police in 2014 to tackle child sexual exploitation that happened several years ago or earlier.

Since then it has arrested 109 suspected perpetrators, although many of the cases have yet to fully progress through court.

Dozens more arrests are expected in the coming months.

RELATED STORY: Hundreds of children at risk of sex grooming

On Wednesday Bradford Council’s Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee will be given an update on the operation.

A report to the committee says: “There are currently five live and 15 completed Operation Dalesway investigations.

“To date 109 suspected perpetrators have been arrested / interviewed, 10 have been charged and 32 are still under police investigation.

“A further 60 to 70 suspects are scheduled to be arrested in the next six to 12 months.

“Five cases have been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for legal advice.

A further two are to be submitted to CPS for a charging decision in the coming months.”

A re-trial of 10 men accused of a string of sex offences is due to take place in January.

One person has been convicted of possession of indecent and extreme pornography.

The CPS made the decision to finalise three cases without any further action taken.

The Dalesway team is currently made up of a Detective Inspector, two Detective Sergeants, one Supervisory Advanced Investigative Officer, seven Detective Constables, 15 investigative officers and three social care staff.

The committee meets in City Hall at 4.30pm.