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Nine arrested in sex trafficking raids in northern England | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Nine people have been arrested in raids on properties in northern England in a crackdown on people trafficking and serious sexual offences. | |
More than 100 officers were involved in the simultaneous searches in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Sheffield. | |
Officers arrested eight men in Stockton and one in Sheffield after a raid in the Callow Mount area of the city. | |
The searches were carried out after a woman told police she had been subjected to sexual offences including rape. | |
The investigation was based on intelligence that an unknown number of young women had been trafficked in Cleveland over a number of months for the purposes of sex, a spokeswoman for the force said. | |
Police believe victims were raped by multiple men after being driven to residential addresses and were sometimes taken to other parts of the country to be further exploited. | Police believe victims were raped by multiple men after being driven to residential addresses and were sometimes taken to other parts of the country to be further exploited. |
Asst ch con Jason Harwin said: “Human trafficking, the exploitation of the most vulnerable in our communities by the most ruthless, will not be accepted. | |
“Our message is clear, to those who are victims in the case: there is hope. We are on your side; we can and will help you. We are here for you and we are stronger and more determined than your abusers.” | “Our message is clear, to those who are victims in the case: there is hope. We are on your side; we can and will help you. We are here for you and we are stronger and more determined than your abusers.” |
Police were unable to say how many victims were involved or if any were underage. |