Teaching assistant arrested in grooming investigation

A teaching assistant at a school in Bolton has been arrested on suspicion of child grooming offences.

The man was arrested on Thursday morning after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was made aware of "inappropriate communication" with a schoolgirl.

GMP said the man is being questioned in custody over alleged offences involving three schoolgirls in total.

Det Insp Janet Malone urged people not to speculate online and said: "We are working with the local authority and the appropriate partners to address any issues raised by understandably concerned parents and carers."

Malone said the force was working to establish if any other children were involved.

She said anyone sharing names on social media could harm the investigation or cause "significant problems" by misidentifying people who are not involved.

"Any report of this nature is something that we deal with robustly, thoroughly, and with the sensitivity that it deserves," Malone said.

"We are in contact with the affected girls and their families, and we are supporting them as our investigation progresses."

Malone urged anyone with information that could assist with the investigation to get in touch with police.

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