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<p>Following the Alexis Jay report in 2014 and identification of the problems that
existed in responding to investigations of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) gangs in
Rotherham, the National Crime Agency (NCA) launched Operation Stovewood, a dedicated
team investigating similar offending which had occurred within Rotherham. As outlined
in the Telford Inquiry report, a number of other forces across the country have successfully
investigated similar offending in their force areas.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS has a national
response to these types of investigations. Each area has formerly dealt with large
CSE cases within their Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) units. Since its inception,
Operation Stovewood has been handled by a team of lawyers within the former Organised
Crime Division. On 1 April 2022, the CPS created a new unit in direct response to
the number and scale of these investigations being undertaken across England and Wales.
The Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit (OCSAU) is a dedicated team of lawyers, which
in addition to the casework generated by NCA Op Stovewood and Child Exploitation and
Online Protection teams, will undertake all similar casework generated by police forces
nationwide.</p><p> </p><p>The unit currently has casework involving approximately
255 suspects and defendants. The lawyers within the unit work closely with investigators
from the earliest stage of the commencement of investigations to ensure that the strongest
possible cases can be built, so that those committing these offences are prosecuted.
Where the CPS’s legal test is met, they will always prosecute these offenders for
the offences they have committed.</p>
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