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Arrests aim to disrupt gangs Trafficking police seize children
(about 1 hour later)
Nineteen people have been arrested during raids in Berkshire aimed at targeting gangs who use children to rob their victims. Six young children have been taken into care following police raids in Berkshire targeting suspected Eastern European gangs and child trafficking.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police, the British Transport Police and Thames Valley Police swooped on 17 addresses across Slough early on Thursday. Officers from the Metropolitan Police, the British Transport Police and Thames Valley Police swooped on 17 addresses across Slough in dawn raids.
Those arrested were held on suspicion of immigration breaches, deception, fraud and theft in London's West End. Nineteen people were held on suspicion of immigration breaches, deception, fraud and theft in London's West End.
They were also held over pick-pocketing and cash machine offences. They were also arrested over cash machine and pick-pocketing offences.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said many of the raided properties were "high occupancy" with large numbers of people inside. Our main focus in this operation is on the welfare of the children who are potentially being exploited Ruth BagleySlough Borough Council
He said police and council officials were also investigating the welfare of any children who might be involved in suspected offences and whether any of them had been illegally trafficked into the UK. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said police were investigating the welfare of the children, who were all under 10 years of age and being cared for by Slough Borough Council.
Detectives will investigate whether any of them were involved in suspected offences, or if they were taken from their families and illegally trafficked into the UK.
He said many of the raided properties, in the Chalvey area of the town, were "high occupancy" with large numbers of people inside.
Commander Steve Allen, of the Met Police, said the operation was about "targeting those behind organised crime networks on the streets of London and the criminal exploitation of children".
'Reunite families'
He added: "With promises of a financial return, some poor families surrender their children who are subsequently forced to commit crime.
"We continue to work closely with, and share intelligence with, the Romanian authorities."
Supt Pete Davies, of Thames Valley Police, said: "I appreciate many residents would have woken up to a rather large police presence in Chalvey this morning, however it is our intention to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.
"Members of the neighbourhood policing team are on duty and will be able to address local concerns."
Officials from Slough Borough Council accompanied police on the planned intelligence-led raids.Officials from Slough Borough Council accompanied police on the planned intelligence-led raids.
Ruth Bagley, chief executive of the council, said: "Our main focus in this operation is on the welfare of the children who are potentially being exploited.
"We will ensure that any children who are presented to the council, receive the appropriate level of care, and efforts will be made to reunite them with their families."