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A major new inquiry into unsolved historic crimes has been launched by police on the back of the Emma Caldwell murder investigation.

The probe will include scores of potential offences which have emerged following a re-examination of more than 1000 statements given to the original inquiry over a decade ago.

Potential evidence of rapes and other sex crimes will be investigated as well as a range of other possible cases.

(Image: PA)

(Image: PA)

None of the claims given in statements appear to have been followed up as a potential crime at the time of the first Strathclyde Police probe.

A number of the complaints relate to alleged incidents which occurred within Glasgow’s notorious red light area.

Police and council officials have since clamped down on illegal activity within the area.

A source said: “This is a major inquiry which will run separately from the murder investigation.

“It will follow up on evidence of crime in statements given during the original inquiry more than 10 years ago.

“Because of the nature of the murder inquiry, some relate to potential offences against women working in the red light district at that time but by no means all.

“There is a genuine range and some of the potential victims are male.”

The new operation is the third major police inquiry relating to the case.

(Image: PA)

A murder investigation opened in 2005 resulted in charges being dropped against four Turkish men.

Then, in 2015, a new inquiry was opened following a Sunday Mail story about the original case.

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Emma, 27, from Erskine, Renfrewshire, went missing after leaving the hostel where she lived on Glasgow’s south side in April 2005.

She had become depressed having lost her sister, developed a drug habit and turned to prostitution.

Her body was found in remote woodlands in Roberton, Lanarkshire, several weeks later.

The first murder inquiry ended in failure when the four arrested Turkish nationals had charges against them dropped after a botched surveillance operation.

In 2015, the Sunday Mail revealed the identity of a forgotten suspect who was interviewed six times by police but never charged.

Later that year, then Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland ordered that the inquiry should be reopened.

Last month, following a three-year investigation, police named a suspect to prosecutors. It remains under consideration by the Crown Office.

The new probe will run as an offshoot with no direct effect on the murder inquiry.

(Image: Mark Anderson)

It was started earlier this month and is being headed by Detective Chief Superintendent Lesley Boal, Police Scotland’s Head of Public Protection.

Her inquiry will be supported by officers from the force’s specialist crime division. It will also receive backing from several public bodies including Rape Crisis Scotland, the Glasgow-based Women’s Support Project and community justice organisation Sacro. There will be specialist help and expert advice provided by one unnamed Scottish NHS board.

DCS Boal said: “We’re currently investigating a number of potential reports of criminality of a violent and sexual nature. These have been highlighted following the reinvestigation of the murder of Emma Caldwell.

“Police Scotland are committed to tackling crime and work closely with a range of partners to reduce the risk of harm and offer support to victims, whose needs are at the forefront of our approach.

“We understand that people may be reluctant to contact the police. However, all victims will be treated with the utmost respect, and advocacy and support services are at hand to assist with police engagement.”

She added: “We’re committed to ensuring that when complaints are received relating to rapes, sexual offences and other crimes, they will be investigated in a robust and proper manner, regardless of when they were committed and who committed them.

"This is an ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Although the statements under examination were given in the middle of the last decade, some relate to potential crimes even further back. The most historic go back to the 70s.

(Image: Daily Record)

Sandy Brindley, of Rape Crisis Scotland, yesterday welcomed the new probe by Police Scotland.

She said: “We will be providing support for sex workers who contact us as a result of this police investigation into historical abuse.

“The likelihood is that they will not have contacted us in the past because of the work they do.

“It’s vital these women have confidence in the police to investigate attacks on them in the same way they would investigate assaults on other women. In the past, sex workers may have believed that such attacks wouldn’t be taken seriously by the authorities because of who they are and what they do for a living.

“Now they know that is not the case and that’s to be welcomed.

“I’d also hope that this move by Police Scotland will deter future attacks on women who are sex workers.

“These men may have believed in the past that their crimes wouldn’t be investigated and they wouldn't be prosecuted.

“Women who are sex workers have the same rights to work in safety as anyone else.”

(Image: PA)

David Thompson, of White Ribbon Scotland, who campaign with men to end violence against women, said: “This is a very positive move by the police to reduce the number of attacks on women sex workers and bring those responsible to justice.

“Any female who is the victim of violence should feel able to report the matter to the police.

“We’d also encourage any men with information about these attacks to come forward and to speak out generally about violence against women.”

Margaret Caldwell, Emma’s mum, said: “The new investigation into my daughter’s death started more than three years ago and it is more than 13 years since she died.

“Above all, I would like to see justice for Emma but I would be happy if the inquiry into her death might also give justice to other women and victims. After all these years, that would be a good thing. I’m sure Emma would be happy too.”