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Raid children back with families | Raid children back with families |
(10 minutes later) | |
Nine Romanian children rescued after police raids against crime gangs have been reunited with their families in the UK. | Nine Romanian children rescued after police raids against crime gangs have been reunited with their families in the UK. |
Officials are now in contact with Romanian authorities to help the remaining child still in care. | Officials are now in contact with Romanian authorities to help the remaining child still in care. |
Twenty-five adults were held after raids in Slough, Berkshire, by police investigating gangs who forced children into crime. | |
They were held on suspicion of offences including deception, fraud and theft. | They were held on suspicion of offences including deception, fraud and theft. |
Trafficked to Britain | Trafficked to Britain |
Detectives are now investigating whether any of the children were involved in suspected crimes and whether they were taken from their families and illegally trafficked into the UK from Romania. | Detectives are now investigating whether any of the children were involved in suspected crimes and whether they were taken from their families and illegally trafficked into the UK from Romania. |
The news comes as authorities in Romania say they have identified 120 children and young people who were taken to Britain last year to beg or pick-pocket. | The news comes as authorities in Romania say they have identified 120 children and young people who were taken to Britain last year to beg or pick-pocket. |
In a statement on Friday, Romanian police said they had arrested 150 adults and were investigating hundreds more. | In a statement on Friday, Romanian police said they had arrested 150 adults and were investigating hundreds more. |
They also said most of those involved were relatives of the children. | They also said most of those involved were relatives of the children. |
Earlier, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said many of the raided properties, in the Chalvey area of the town on Thursday, were "high occupancy" with large numbers of people inside. | Earlier, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said many of the raided properties, in the Chalvey area of the town on Thursday, were "high occupancy" with large numbers of people inside. |
The children, who ranged in age from a baby less than a year old to a 17-year-old youth, were cared for by Slough Borough Council. | |
'Crime networks' | 'Crime networks' |
A council spokesman said: "We addressed the level of care that they [the children] needed and are following the child protection guidelines." | A council spokesman said: "We addressed the level of care that they [the children] needed and are following the child protection guidelines." |
Police suspect poor families in eastern Europe may be forced into allowing gangs to take their children into the UK to carry out offences such as pick-pocketing and thefts near cash machines. | Police suspect poor families in eastern Europe may be forced into allowing gangs to take their children into the UK to carry out offences such as pick-pocketing and thefts near cash machines. |
The gangs are believed to have taken the children into central London to commit the crimes. | The gangs are believed to have taken the children into central London to commit the crimes. |
On Thursday, Commander Steve Allen, of the Metropolitan Police, said the operation was about "targeting those behind organised crime networks on the streets of London and the criminal exploitation of children". | On Thursday, Commander Steve Allen, of the Metropolitan Police, said the operation was about "targeting those behind organised crime networks on the streets of London and the criminal exploitation of children". |
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." |