Trafficked children in care after police raid on ‘Fagin gangs’ | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

“Twenty-five people were arrested in dawn raids yesterday as police tried to shut down a gang which trafficked children from Romania and forced them to steal and rob on the streets of London.

Police say that since Romania joined the EU in 2007 there has been a sharp rise in children being brought to London by modern-day “Fagin’s gangs”. Up to 200 Romanian children have been forced into crime in London and can generate up to ｣20m a year for gangs controlling them.”

That was yesterday. Today the story has changed :

BBC NEWS | England | Berkshire | Raid children back with families

“Nine Romanian children rescued after police raids against crime gangs have been reunited with their families in the UK.”

“They also said most of those involved were relatives of the children.

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.”

What a shame that this statement didn’t get the attention that the raids originally did featured as they were on the TV news with photographers from the papers taking photographs.

I wonder on what basis Commander Steve Allen, the senior officer in charge, allowed TV crews to record the police raids.

We all make mistakes but this one was a very public one to make and one made at considerable distress to the familes and children.

BBC coverage of the raid can be found here.