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Teesside and South Yorkshire targeted in trafficking raids | Teesside and South Yorkshire targeted in trafficking raids |
(about 4 hours later) | |
More than 150 police officers have raided properties in Teesside and South Yorkshire in a crackdown on people trafficking and sexual offences. | More than 150 police officers have raided properties in Teesside and South Yorkshire in a crackdown on people trafficking and sexual offences. |
Nine people were arrested in Stockton-on-Tees and another in Sheffield in simultaneous raids. | |
The raids followed several young women reporting they had been trafficked and raped at different addresses. | The raids followed several young women reporting they had been trafficked and raped at different addresses. |
Cleveland Police officers were supported by a team from Immigration Enforcement. | Cleveland Police officers were supported by a team from Immigration Enforcement. |
All those being held were arrested on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to traffic and blackmail. | All those being held were arrested on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to traffic and blackmail. |
Assistant Chief Constable Jason Harwin said: "Clearly, to deploy 150 officers shows how seriously we take this. | Assistant Chief Constable Jason Harwin said: "Clearly, to deploy 150 officers shows how seriously we take this. |
"Human trafficking, the exploitation of the most vulnerable in our communities by the most ruthless, will not be accepted. | "Human trafficking, the exploitation of the most vulnerable in our communities by the most ruthless, will not be accepted. |
"To those who traffic in human beings, in human lives, who seek to gain from fear or weakness, our message is unequivocal; we are strong, we are determined and we will bring you to justice." | "To those who traffic in human beings, in human lives, who seek to gain from fear or weakness, our message is unequivocal; we are strong, we are determined and we will bring you to justice." |
ACC Harwin said the force had received intelligence that an unknown number of young women had been trafficked within the Cleveland force area for the purposes of sex over a number of months. | ACC Harwin said the force had received intelligence that an unknown number of young women had been trafficked within the Cleveland force area for the purposes of sex over a number of months. |
Reports said victims were raped by multiple men after being driven to residential addresses. | Reports said victims were raped by multiple men after being driven to residential addresses. |
He said he was unable to give exact victim numbers at this time, or to say if any of them were juveniles. | He said he was unable to give exact victim numbers at this time, or to say if any of them were juveniles. |