A man in his late teens has been arrested on suspicion of raping a teenage girl in a park in Bath city centre, police have said.

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

Parade Gardens is a triangular riverside park between the River Avon and North Parade, about 250 yards east of Bath Abbey in the heart of the city centre. A police cordon was in place in the gardens on Thursday while officers carried out their enquiries.

Arrest and investigation

Avon and Somerset Police said forensic and CCTV enquiries are continuing, and that the investigation is still at a relatively early stage. Specialist detectives are leading the investigation, supported by uniformed officers carrying out additional patrols in the area.

Chief Inspector Dudley Bond, who is based in Bath, said: “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 added: “We know that news of this arrest will be welcomed within the city, but our enquiries are still at a relatively early stage with forensic and CCTV enquiries continuing.”

Appeal for witnesses

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward, and in particular for two men who are believed to have come to the girl’s aid after the attack and helped her get a taxi home. Officers want to speak to them, and to anyone else who was in or around Parade Gardens late on Wednesday night.

Anyone who can help 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 anonymous online form.

What police have not yet said

Police have not yet said whether the arrested man remains in custody or whether he has been charged, and no one has been named in connection with the investigation. The victim has not been named, and police have asked that anyone with information comes forward rather than speculating about the case.

The arrest follows a day in which the reported attack had prompted concern across the city, with officers stressing that supporting the young victim remains their first priority while the investigation continues. The case was confirmed by Avon and Somerset Police and reported by Greatest Hits Radio.