Arrests in child crime police operation

Ten children have been taken into care after a mass police operation to target crime networks who are using children to commit crimes.

Thames Valley police are working with officers from the Met, British Transport Police and local authorities in Slough and Westminster and carried out 17 search warrants in Slough at 6.30am yesterday.

Operation Caddy has been set up to bring down organised criminals involved in child trafficking, theft of personal property, pick pocketing and cash point theft crime.
25 people were arrested for a range of offences and ten children are under the care of Slough Borough Council.

Commander Steve Allen, of Westminster Borough said 'While many of these crimes committed appear to be low level, we have evidence that organised crime networks are exploiting and driving the most vulnerable members of their own community.
"With promises of a financial return, some poor families surrender their children who are subsequently forced to commit crime."
He added: "We continue to work closely with and share intelligence with the Romanian authorities."

Supt Pete Davies, local police commander for Slough, said yesterday: "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 and that the areas concerned return to normality as soon as possible.
"I would like to reassure the residents of Chalvey that overall crime in their area has fallen over the past nine months."