- LONDON — UK's ruling Labour Party announced that it had suspended its Member
of Parliament Dan Norris after being arrested on suspicion of rape, child sex
offences, child abduction and misconduct in a public office, according to local
media reports.
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- Norris is currently the Mayor of the West of England as well
as an MP. The suspension means Norris, the MP for North East Somerset and
Hanham, is also understood to have had the party whip suspended, meaning he is
not able to sit as a Labour MP in the House of Commons.
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- "Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour
Party upon being informed of his arrest. We cannot comment further while the
police investigation is ongoing," said a party spokesman confirming his
arrest on Saturday night.
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- Avon and Somerset Police said it was investigating a series
of allegations against a man in his sixties.
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- It stated that "most of the offences are alleged to
have occurred in the 2000s," adding that it was also investigating an
alleged offence of rape from the 2020s.
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- "In December 2024, we received a referral from another
police force relating to alleged non-recent child sex offences having been
committed against a girl," said Avon and Somerset Police in a statement.
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- "Most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in
the 2000s but we're also investigating an alleged offence of rape from the
2020s. An investigation, led by officers within Operation Bluestone, our
dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, remains ongoing
and at an early stage," the statement added.
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- "The victim is being supported and given access to any
specialist help or support she needs."
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