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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/09/police-raids-northern-england-crackdown-sex-trafficking
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Nine arrested in sex trafficking raids in northern England | Nine arrested in sex trafficking raids in northern England |
(35 minutes 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 after a raid in the Callow Mount area of Sheffield. | |
The searches were carried out after a woman told police she had been subjected to sexual offences including rape. | 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 police spokeswoman 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. |
The assistant chief constable of Cleveland police, 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 thought to be involved or whether any were underage. |