NCA Makes 19th Operation Pallial Arrest

Officers from the National Crime Agency today arrested a 71-year-old man from the Ellesmere Port area of Cheshire, on suspicion of sexual assaults against two boys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The arrest forms part of Operation Pallial, an investigation led by NCA Director General Keith Bristow into recent allegations of historical sexual abuse in the care system in North Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The offences are alleged to have taken place against two boys, between 1977 and 1985, when they were aged between 13 and 15 years old. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The man has been taken to a local police station where he will be interviewed by NCA officers from Operation Pallial. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

No further information about the arrest, or the specific nature of the offences being put to him, will be provided. An update will be issued when the man is charged, bailed or released from police custody following interview. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Today’s arrest is the nineteenth conducted by members of Operation Pallial. To date, one person has been charged with a large number of serious sexual offences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​