SUSPECTS arrested in connection with child sexual exploitation in Blackrod village are still released under investigation, police said this week.

The announcement came as officers renewed their appeal for anyone with information to contact them.

In September, seven people arrested were released under investigation.

Arrests were made earlier that year after a report that a teenage girl had been groomed and raped by a number of men in Blackrod since March 2016.

Over the weekend police updated the public on the on-going investigation.

Posting on Facebook, GMP Bolton North wrote: "An investigation into Child Sexual Exploitation which occurred in Blackrod in June 2018 is still underway with our CSE Team.

"Due to the complexity of the operation several suspects are still released under investigation.

"If you have any information regarding the operation please contact GMP on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

READ MORE: Seven arrested after report of child exploitation in Blackrod released

The update comes just days after it was announced a new "complex safeguarding team" will be set up in Bolton to keep children safe from all forms of exploitation and to tackle modern slavery

In November last year, 17 people were rescued after dawn raids by police conducting an anti-slavery operation.

And in 2016 a family from Bolton who kept Hungarian women as prostitutes were made subject to some of the first Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders in the UK.

Complex safeguarding teams will be introduced across Greater Manchester including Bolton to bring together teams of experts and to build on the work of Project Phoenix, Programme Challenger and the ‘Trapped; Campaign.

GMP’s Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain said: "Tackling the exploitation of children and vulnerable people is an absolute priority for GMP and our partners. Child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation and modern slavery are hugely complex crimes that the police cannot solve alone.

"This new approach will include the introduction of a specialist, co-located, multi-agency ‘complex safeguarding team’ in every borough across Greater Manchester, focusing on all aspects of exploitation including child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation and modern slavery.

“Ensuring that we build on already strong foundations and partnerships, we will be bringing existing teams together to work in a collaborative approach that protects children and vulnerable people from all forms of abuse and exploitation.

“We know that reports in these areas have increased significantly year on year as a result of both the work of the safeguarding teams and victims feeling more confident speaking out about the abuse they have suffered. Despite this, we still know that many incidents remain unreported, so we continue to see any increases in our figures as a positive.

“It is crucial that communities across Greater Manchester fully understand the many forms that exploitation can take and are able to recognise the signs. We encourage victims to come forward with the reassurance that their report will be taken seriously and that specialist support is available.”