POLICE feared there could be more victims after 10 people were last night in custody after a series of anti-slavery raids.

About 150 officers raided more than a dozen properties during 6am raids yesterday as part of an investigation into human exploitation, slavery and fraud called Operation Rague.

Eight people were arrested at Redbridge Hollow, off Old Abingdon Road, South Oxford, one man was arrested in Blackbird Leys and another man in the Rose Hill area.

Superintendent Andy Boyd, the commander for the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse police area, said the raids came after “months” of work with the National Crime Agency.

He said: “This has been an extremely complex investigation which is still ongoing.

“There were a number of different offences that we have effectively pulled together to get an understanding of what’s going on.

“The warrants were focused on only specific addresses at Redbridge Hollow.

“There is a only minority of people there who have been committing offences.”

He called for other victims to talk to the police, and said: “We understand that there are other victims of these crimes.

“These victims, for whatever reason, have been too afraid to come forward.

“We hope our actions today have demonstrated how seriously we take this and gives people the confidence to come forward.

“These alleged offences are matters which are taken extremely seriously by the police and I would urge anybody with any information to contact us.”

Supt Boyd said most of the group’s alleged victims were men, “although there were a very small number of women,” and that none of them were children.

He added there was no evidence that any of the victims were sexually abused.

“We have been working on this for a little while.

Our top stories

“We have been speaking to victims for a little while and some of the offending is historic rather than current.”

Nine men and one woman were arrested.

The woman, 44, was arrested on suspicion of slavery along with a 56-year-old man; a 44-year-old was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and exploitation offences; and a 47-year-old was was arrested on suspicion of slavery, assault and making threats to kill.

Men aged 20 and 44 were arrested on suspicion of fraud, men aged 44, 19 and 27 were arrested on suspicion of trade offences and a 20-year-old was arrested for theft.

Supt Boyd said: “A number of the individuals who have been arrested are from the same family. The group of people that have been arrested are all known to each other.”

When asked if the charges of fraud and trade offences were connected to the accusations of slavery and exploitation, he said: “Some of the fraud offences are related to the exploitation and others are standalone crimes.”

HM Revenue and Customs road fuel testing officers worked alongside police officers to gather evidence for the fraud element of the investigation.

Spokeswoman Lisa Billard said: “Our officers tested the fuel tanks of vehicles at the site, but no fuel discrepancies were found.”

Thames Valley Police also worked with South Oxfordshire Council and Vale of White Horse District Council, Oxfordshire County Council, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.

The alleged victims are being supported by the police and health.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “The council worked with some people yesterday to establish whether input was needed from social service staff.

“It was determined that no further support was required currently for them from social services.”