Three nail bars and three other properties in the town were swooped on by officers at 10am today in an operation that saw 17 co-ordinated warrants carried out in Berkshire, Yorkshire and London.
More than 150 officers took part in the action - named operation Rehoboam - which also saw simultaneous raids on four properties in Wokingham, one in West Berkshire, five in London and a nail bar in London.
Thames Valley Police carried out the warrants in connection with partners from the Metropolitan Police and North Yorkshire Police following 18-months of investigation work.
The moment our officers entered an address in #Reading #Rdg as part of #Op_Rehoboam pic.twitter.com/nQIYg8edGT
— TVP Reading (@TVP_Reading) March 17, 2015
Investigating officer, Det Ch Insp Rebecca Mears said: “Thames Valley Police is committed to tackling human trafficking and will work with communities to stop such crimes.
“It is a criminal offence to traffic people into the UK. It is an offence to force people, by threats or coercion, to work unpaid or to pay off a debt. It is an offence to make people carry out acts against their will.
“The key aim of this operation is to protect vulnerable people. The victims in this investigation have been taken to rest centres where they are being supported by Thames Valley Police, the British Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
“Extra police community support officers will be out on patrol today speaking to residents and businesses to inform them of today’s operation and provide reassurance.”
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