A man in his late teens has been arrested on suspicion of raping a teenage girl in a park in the centre of Bath, Avon and Somerset Police have said.

The reported attack took place in Parade Gardens at about 11.30pm on Wednesday 11 November. Police said the arrest was made on Thursday evening and that the girl was being supported and kept updated on the investigation.

Parade Gardens is a riverside park in the heart of Bath, between the River Avon and North Parade and a short distance from Bath Abbey. A police cordon was in place in the area on Thursday while officers carried out forensic work.

Investigation under way

Chief Inspector Dudley Bond, who is based in Bath, said supporting the young victim was the force's main priority. "A key priority for us is supporting the young victim, and ensuring she receives the specialist care and assistance she needs both in the short-term and going forward," he said.

He added that inquiries were still at a relatively early stage, with forensic and CCTV inquiries continuing, and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Police said two men were believed to have come to the victim's aid after the attack and helped her get a taxi home. Officers are keen to speak to them, as well as to anyone else who was in or around Parade Gardens late on Wednesday night and saw anything that could help the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Avon and Somerset Police online or by calling 101 and quoting reference number 5226365584. Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through its website.

The man who was arrested has not been named and has not been charged. Police have not released further details about him while inquiries continue.

Police first appealed for information on Thursday, before the arrest was announced that evening. A cordon was put in place around part of the gardens while forensic officers examined the scene, and officers carried out house-to-house and CCTV inquiries in the surrounding streets.

Specialist detectives are leading the investigation, supported by uniformed officers who have been carrying out additional patrols in the area to reassure residents and visitors. Police said the two men who helped the victim after the attack may hold important information, even if they did not witness the attack itself, and urged them to make contact.

What happens next

The arrested man remains in police custody for questioning. An arrest on suspicion is not a charge, and police have not said whether he will be released, bailed or charged. Any decision on charges would be taken after the investigation, with prosecutors considering whether there is enough evidence and whether prosecution is in the public interest.

Under UK law, people who report a sexual offence are entitled to lifetime anonymity, and their identity must not be published. Police have not named the victim and have asked the public not to speculate about her identity online.

Extra patrols have been carried out in the area by uniformed officers, and specialist detectives are leading the investigation.