OPERATION TOURWAY – KIRKLEES CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CHARGES

In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that 32 men—predominantly from the Kirklees area of West Yorkshire—were charged with a vast catalogue of historic sexual offences as part of Operation Tourway. The investigation established a major non-recent child sexual exploitation (CSE) network operating between 1999 and 2012. The prosecution reported that the charges involve 118 counts of rape, alongside trafficking and drug supply, committed against eight female victims who were aged between 13 and 16 at the time.

The investigation established that the alleged offending took place across various locations in Kirklees, Bradford, and Wakefield. The prosecution reported that several victims were subjected to continued abuse as young adults. West Yorkshire Police conducted a massive multi-year probe to identify the perpetrators, leading to the men appearing at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court in December 2020.

Principal Defendants and Major Charges

The investigation established that several individuals faced exceptionally high numbers of charges, indicating a “prolonged and systematic” campaign of abuse. The prosecution reported that Asif Ali faced 12 counts of rape and trafficking, while Zafar Qayum faced 17 counts of rape and 9 counts of indecent assault. Ansar Mahmood Qayum was charged with 13 counts of rape and aiding and abetting.

Judge-led proceedings at the Magistrates’ Court served to transfer the cases to the Crown Court for trial. For the actions reported across West Yorkshire and the “scale of the alleged predation,” the defendants were subjected to strict bail conditions or remanded. The judge noted that the length of the investigation was a direct result of the “complexity and sensitivity” involved in supporting the eight survivors through a decade of trauma.

Status and Charging Summary (As of 2020 Prosecution)

For the records reported in West Yorkshire, the primary charges under Operation Tourway were as follows:

Legal and Statutory Framework

All 32 men were processed through Kirklees Magistrates’ Court between 11 and 14 December 2020. Due to the nature of the conduct—specifically the “trafficking and repeated rape of minors”—the cases were identified as requiring the highest tier of statutory oversight. Authorities state that those charged with trafficking and Class A drug supply face significantly higher sentencing starting points should they be convicted, reflecting the “organised and predatory” nature of the exploitation reported in Operation Tourway.

As of April 9, 2026, the records of these proceedings are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that the successful charging of 32 individuals simultaneously was a vital step in providing the survivors with “long-overdue judicial recognition.” Any eventual convictions will result in life-long placement on the Sex Offenders Register and the Barring List (DBS), ensuring that the public is protected from a group that demonstrated a persistent and “co-ordinated intent” to exploit vulnerable schoolgirls across West Yorkshire.

QUESTION – Given that the charges in Operation Tourway span 13 years and involve “trafficking and drug supply” alongside rape, do you believe that “Group Exploitation” should trigger an automatic mandatory life sentence for all participants, regardless of the individual number of counts?

If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.