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MP Dan Norris has been taken into custody on serious allegations, including rape, child sexual offenses, child abduction, and misconduct in a public office.
The Labour Party has announced that it “immediately suspended” Norris, who represents North East Somerset and Hanham, following news of his arrest.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that a man in his 60s was arrested on Friday and has since been released on conditional bail.
BBC News has reached out to Norris for his remarks regarding the situation.
Norris, aged 65, secured his position as the MP for North East Somerset and Hanham in 2024, defeating previous Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Before this, he had served in Parliament from 1997 to 2010, representing the Wansdyke constituency.
He held roles as a junior minister during Gordon Brown’s tenure and served as an assistant whip under Tony Blair.
In addition to his parliamentary responsibilities, Norris has been the Mayor of the West of England since 2021, although he is slated to step down ahead of the local elections in May.
According to information on the West of England Combined Authority’s official site, Norris has experience working as a child protection officer, trained by NSPCC.
Avon and Somerset Police released a statement detailing that the investigation stems from a referral received in December 2024 from another police force regarding alleged historical sexual offenses against a minor.
The statement indicated that while most alleged offenses date back to the 2000s, there is also an examination of a reported rape case from more recent years.
The ongoing investigation is being led by Operation Bluestone, which is focused on cases of serious sexual assault and rape. Police emphasized their commitment to supporting the victim, providing her with necessary specialized assistance.
A man in his 60s was arrested on April 4, under suspicion of multiple charges including sexual offenses against a minor (pursuant to the Sexual Offences Act 1956), rape (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003), child abduction, and misconduct in a public office. Following his arrest, he has been released on bail pending further inquiries.
A spokesperson for the Labour Party stated on Saturday, “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.”
This suspension implies that Mr. Norris, the MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, has also had the party whip removed, which prevents him from serving as a Labour MP in the House of Commons during this investigation.
Source
www.bbc.com