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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police defend child raid action | Police defend child raid action |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| A police commander has defended action taken against suspected Romanian crime gangs, which it is suggested have used children to beg and steal. | A police commander has defended action taken against suspected Romanian crime gangs, which it is suggested have used children to beg and steal. |
| Ten children, including a baby less than a year old, were taken into care after dawn raids on houses in Slough, Berkshire, on Thursday. | Ten children, including a baby less than a year old, were taken into care after dawn raids on houses in Slough, Berkshire, on Thursday. |
| Nine children have been reunited with their parents. One adult has been jailed and 14 others charged. | Nine children have been reunited with their parents. One adult has been jailed and 14 others charged. |
| Metropolitan Police Commander Steve Allen said it was his duty to act. | Metropolitan Police Commander Steve Allen said it was his duty to act. |
| The story would have been very different had I not acted - and had subsequently one of the children turned up dead Commander Steve Allen | The story would have been very different had I not acted - and had subsequently one of the children turned up dead Commander Steve Allen |
| Mr Allen, who led the raids, told BBC Five live: "I'm not able to see into the future. I didn't know exactly who and what we were going to find in those addresses. | Mr Allen, who led the raids, told BBC Five live: "I'm not able to see into the future. I didn't know exactly who and what we were going to find in those addresses. |
| "But I did act on the basis of sound intelligence. And I acted under my duty to ensure the welfare of children. | "But I did act on the basis of sound intelligence. And I acted under my duty to ensure the welfare of children. |
| "The story would have been very different had I not acted - and had subsequently one of the children turned up dead. | "The story would have been very different had I not acted - and had subsequently one of the children turned up dead. |
| "You would quite rightly be putting me on the spot and asking me questions about why I hadn't taken action." | "You would quite rightly be putting me on the spot and asking me questions about why I hadn't taken action." |
| A total of 25 Romanian nationals were arrested and 14 remain in custody. | A total of 25 Romanian nationals were arrested and 14 remain in custody. |
| Nine of them have been charged with immigration offences, three with theft of mobile phones, two with handling stolen mobile phones and one with breach of a deportation order. | Nine of them have been charged with immigration offences, three with theft of mobile phones, two with handling stolen mobile phones and one with breach of a deportation order. |
| A 15th person pleaded guilty to theft of mobile phones and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison when the group appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday. | |
| Relatives involved | Relatives involved |
| Scotland Yard said six people had been bailed to return on various dates pending further inquiries. | Scotland Yard said six people had been bailed to return on various dates pending further inquiries. |
| A further three people were being questioned by Thames Valley Police in connection with the raids in the Chalvey area of the town. | A further three people were being questioned by Thames Valley Police in connection with the raids in the Chalvey area of the town. |
| Officials are in contact with Romanian authorities to help one remaining child still in care with Slough Borough Council. | Officials are in contact with Romanian authorities to help one remaining child still in care with Slough Borough Council. |
| Detectives are investigating whether the children were smuggled into the UK from Romania and then used to beg or pick-pocket on the streets of central London. | Detectives are investigating whether the children were smuggled into the UK from Romania and then used to beg or pick-pocket on the streets of central London. |
| On Friday, authorities in Romania said they had identified 120 children and young people who they believe were taken to Britain last year on suspicion of stealing or begging. | On Friday, authorities in Romania said they had identified 120 children and young people who they believe were taken to Britain last year on suspicion of stealing or begging. |
| Romanian police said they had arrested 150 adults and were investigating hundreds more. | Romanian police said they had arrested 150 adults and were investigating hundreds more. |
| They also said most of those involved were believed to be relatives of the children. | They also said most of those involved were believed to be relatives of the children. |