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| Trafficking police seize children | Trafficking police seize children |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ten 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 in dawn raids. | Officers from the Metropolitan Police, the British Transport Police and Thames Valley Police swooped on 17 addresses across Slough in dawn raids. |
| Nineteen people 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 arrested over cash machine and pick-pocketing offences. | They were also arrested over cash machine and pick-pocketing offences. |
| Our main focus in this operation is on the welfare of the children who are potentially being exploited Ruth BagleySlough Borough Council | Our main focus in this operation is on the welfare of the children who are potentially being exploited Ruth BagleySlough Borough Council |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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' | 'Reunite families' |
| He added: "With promises of a financial return, some poor families surrender their children who are subsequently forced to commit crime. | 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." | "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. | 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." | "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. | 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." | "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." |