crewe news is developing this morning as Cheshire Police carry out warrants at three addresses in Crewe over allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage. The operation began on Wednesday 29 April at around 8. 50am, with officers supported by forces from across the North West. Police said the addresses are linked to a religious group in Crewe, while the investigation is focused on members rather than the group itself.
Large police presence seen across Crewe
About 500 officers were in the town, with a police helicopter above and the majority of the operation centered on Webb House, a former children’s orphanage on Victoria Avenue. Cheshire Police said three warrants were being executed at addresses connected to The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, also known as AROPL, which has multiple addresses in Crewe. Several males of multiple nationalities have been arrested.
Police have said details about the arrests will be confirmed shortly. The force stressed that members of the group are being investigated, not the AROPL itself, and that further information will be released when available. For now, the scale of the response suggests a serious and fast-moving operation, with officers working alongside colleagues from neighbouring forces.
What police have confirmed so far
A Cheshire Police spokesperson said officers from Cheshire Police, with support from neighbouring forces, were conducting a warrant at three addresses in Crewe following allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage. The same spokesperson said further details would be provided when available. That remains the clearest official statement at this stage, and it sets the frame for the investigation now unfolding in the town.
The presence of a helicopter, multiple officers and several simultaneous warrants points to an organised response rather than a routine search. crewe news is following a case that has placed a local religious group under intense scrutiny, while police continue to limit what they are releasing publicly.
Immediate reaction from the force
Cheshire Police has not named any suspects or given a full breakdown of the arrests. It has, however, confirmed that the warrants are linked to allegations involving serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage. Those are among the most serious categories of abuse police can investigate, and the public nature of the deployment shows the scale of concern around the case.
No statement has been issued from AROPL in the material available, and no court outcomes have been announced. At this stage, the facts remain tightly controlled, with police indicating that more information will be shared only when it is ready.
Background to the warrants
AROPL bought Webb House in 2021 after moving to the UK from Sweden. The group has multiple addresses in Crewe, and police said the current investigation concerns members of the group. That distinction is important, because the force has not said the organisation itself is the subject of the allegations.
The operation comes after concerns were raised over the alleged activities of a religious group in the town. That concern has now escalated into a major police deployment and three warrants at different addresses.
What happens next
The next update is expected from Cheshire Police once more details are available, including confirmation of the arrests and any further action linked to the warrants. Until then, the investigation remains active and the public picture is still developing. crewe news will remain focused on the official line as police continue their work in Crewe.
