Britain's Rotherham sex abuse probe identifies hundreds of potential suspects

British investigators have identified "a significant number of potential offenders" in a probe into the child sexual abuse scandal in Rotherham, Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) announced Wednesday.

The investigation, code-named "Operation Stovewood", began in December last year when the exposure of widespread organized child sexual abuses in Rotherham of South Yorkshire shocked the nation.

It has been estimated that around 1,400 children were sexually abused in the town between 1997 and 2013.

"An examination of the material reviewed by Operation Stovewood so far has identified a significant number of potential offenders. The current figure is in the low hundreds," the NCA said in a statement.

Steve Baldwin, senior investigating officer for Operation Stovewood, said more than 3,300 lines of enquiry had already been identified for the investigation.

"The abuse that has taken place in Rotherham is horrific. We have gathered a huge amount of information which details some very disturbing events," Baldwin noted.

"Work to identify all victims of non-familial CSEA (child sexual exploitation and abuse) in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013 is ongoing," he said, adding that the previous estimate of 1,400 victims "remains a very good assessment."

NCA director Trevor Pearce, who is also the officer who commands Operation Stovewood, said the first stage of the investigation was nearing completion.

He said investigators had undertaken a massive information gathering exercise during the past six months, with information from South Yorkshire Police, Rotherham Council, and other individuals and agencies. Endit