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Hopes raised for rescued children Raid children back with families
(about 1 hour later)
Children rescued after police carried out raids against crime gangs could soon be reunited with their families. Nine Romanian children rescued after police raids against crime gangs have been reunited with their families in the UK.
Officials who are now looking after the 10 youngsters - one aged less than a year old - have been in contact with the Romanian authorities. Officials are now in contact with Romanian authorities to help the remaining child still in care.
A total of 25 adults were arrested during raids in Slough, Berkshire, by police investigating gangs who forced children into crime. 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 crimes including deception, fraud and theft. They were held on suspicion of offences including deception, fraud and theft.
We are trying to reunite them with their families in the UK and in Romania so we are also working with the Romanian authorities Slough Borough Council Trafficked to Britain
Detectives are now investigating whether any of the children were involved in suspected offences 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.
Earlier, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said many of the raided properties, in the Chalvey area of the town, were "high occupancy" with large numbers of people inside. 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 youngsters, the oldest of whom is 17, are being cared for by Slough Borough Council. In a statement on Friday, Romanian police said they had arrested 150 adults and were investigating hundreds more.
A council spokesman said: "We have addressed the level of care that they [the children] needed and are following the child protection guidelines. They also said most of those involved were relatives of the children.
"We are trying to reunite them with their families in the UK and in Romania so we are also working with the Romanian authorities." 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 youngsters, 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."
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 Met 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."