'Smuggled Fagin kids' were actually living happily with their Romanian parents, embarrassed police reveal

Officers from he Met raided 17 homes in Slough, Berkshire, and took away 10 children that they claimed were working in Fagin-style gangs where they were forced into begging and pickpocketing on the streets.

But the children were not in any danger and have all been returned, or are being returned, to their families.

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A total of 68 children were found in the properties, and ten were taken into care.

Last night the Romanian families accused the Met of targeting the gypsy community because parents are often not married and children do not always share the same name.

But Metropolitan Police Commander Steve Allen said it was his duty to act.

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He said: "I'm not able to see into the future. I didn't know exactly who and what we were going to find in those addresses.

"But I did act on the basis of sound intelligence. And I acted under my duty to ensure the welfare of children.

"The story would have been very different had I not acted - and had subsequently one of the children turned up dead.

"You would quite rightly be putting me on the spot and asking me questions about why I hadn't taken action."

The dawn raids last Thursday were part of Operation Caddy to disrupt organised criminals involved in child trafficking, theft of personal property, pick-pocketing and cash point theft crime on the streets of Westminster.

Scotland Yard said tourists, business people and commuters fell victim to pickpocketing gangs, mostly coming from Romania.

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They believe poor families had surrendered their children to organised crime networks in exchange for a promised financial reward. The youngsters were then forced in to crime.

Months of planning went into the operation, working closely with the Romanian authorities and other agencies, including the local authority and Thames Valley police.

Police officers questioned 25 adults for offences including immigration breaches, deception, fraud and theft following the raids.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We have a duty to act on intelligence, especially where the welfare of children is concerned and do not make decisions to place juveniles into police protection lightly.

"In every single case we had sound reasons to do so based on intelligence and inquiries made by officers at the time.

"All cases remain open and are being monitored by social services and police.

"We continue to work closely with the Romanian authorities to build our intelligence picture about the networks and individuals responsible for organised crime and further operations can be expected in the months ahead."