Twelve arrested in child exploitation investigation

The men, aged between 21 and 37, were held this morning after detectives uncovered what they believe is an organised crime group selling girls for sex.

Thames Valley Police say 24 girls between the ages of 11 and 16 are thought to have been involved over a six-year period.

Detective Superintendent Rob Mason said: “The warrants executed today are the second phase of this investigation and the arrests have been made to protect the girls from further harm. Our number one priority is to protect the victims, both their identities and wellbeing.

“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 men arrested today are being questioned about a variety of offences including causing the prostitution of females under the age of 18, administrating drugs for the purpose of rape, trafficking, grooming and rape.

The joint investigation – codenamed Operation Bullfinch – is being carried out by Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council’s Children, Education and Families Department. Officers from the county council have been seconded to the police and been working from police premises.

Det Supt Rob Mason told Channel 4 News that the alleged offences do not relate to trafficking on an international level, but that some of the girls were taken out of the Oxford area. He said men in other parts of the country could be arrested.

He also said that there is a significant potential that there more than 24 girls involved in sex racket, and that it could have been going on for more than six years.

Det Supt Mason added that police were exploring the possibility that the girls were used to recruit their friends.

Councillor Louise Chapman, cabinet member for children, young people and families from Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The county council has assisted in what has been a complex investigation leading to today’s events. Its focus has been, and will continue to be, on the care for alleged victims.

“Thames Valley Police has demonstrated in conducting this investigation that it is not prepared to tolerate child exploitation in Oxfordshire. The county council feels sure it is speaking for the whole community in expressing total support for the police in this regard.”

Peter Davies, chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), said: “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.

“In 2011, our report Out of Mind, Out of Sight showed that child sexual exploitation affects children of many different backgrounds across the country.”

Mr Davies said staff from CEOP will be working with Thames Valley Police to assist officers involved with the investigation, and will be offering support for ongoing engagement with victims and potential victims.

Sheila Taylor, director of the National Working Group for Sexually Exploited Children & Young People (NWG), said: “As always our concerns lie with the young people who have been victims and 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,” she added.