12 held over 'child exploitation' in UK

Twelve men have been arrested in Britain on suspicion of a string of child exploitation offences including causing the prostitution of young girls, trafficking, grooming and rape.

Detectives are investigating the cases of 24 girls aged between 11 and 16 in Oxford.

The men, aged between 21 and 37, are being held in police custody.

Detective Superintendent Rob Mason, of Thames Valley Police, said: “We believe we have uncovered an organised crime group who have been running a business of selling young girls for sex.

“We have also identified a number of customers who we have reason to believe have used this service.”

The offending is believed to span more than a six-year period.

The arrests came after officers from Thames Valley Police executed 14 warrants across Oxford as part of an operation named Bullfinch.

The group of 12 men are being questioned over a variety of alleged crimes which include: causing the prostitution of females under the age of 18; administrating drugs for the purpose of rape; trafficking; grooming and rape.

The police investigation, carried out in conjunction with Oxfordshire County Council’s children, education and families department, aims to rescue potential victims and secure convictions of those believed to be responsible.

Councillor Louise Chapman, cabinet member for children, young people and families at Oxfordshire County Council, said its focus was now on the care for alleged victims.

Peter Davies, chief executive at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, commended the police action.

“Tackling this devastating form of child abuse is challenging for police forces and other agencies, so I’d like to congratulate Thames Valley Police on these arrests,” he said.

Sheila Taylor, director of the National Working Group for Sexually Exploited Children and Young People, said: “As always, our concerns lie with the young people who have been victims and (we) are very pleased to see a complete multi-agency team approach to assisting the recovery of the young people.

“The experience of our members in the network is that both victims and offenders come from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds.”