Operation Sabaton
Over 100 officers from Thames Valley Police were involved in the Oxford dawn raids Thames Valley Police

Police have arrested nine men in relation to child sex offences following a series of synchronised dawn raids on properties across Oxford involving more than 100 officers.

Thames Valley Police has said the men were arrested in connection with a range of offences including indecent assault, oral rape, engaging in sexual activity with a child, sexual grooming and rape.

Two 36-year-olds, a 29-year-old, a 31-year-old, a 44-year-old, a 45-year-old, a 33-year-old and a 37-year-old, were arrested in the initial raid and a ninth man aged 34, of no fixed abode, has since been arrested.

The raids formed part of Thames Valley police's Sabaton Operation, which is investigating 60 offences on female victims in the university city between 1999 and 2007.

At a press briefing following the raids, Detective Superintendent Joe Kidman said: "This is a complex investigation into child sexual exploitation in Oxford undertaken by the Thames Valley Police major crime unit.

"We are working with our partners at Oxfordshire County Council to safeguard and support the victims, whose identities will be protected," Press Association reported.

Police said five of the suspects had self-identified as Pakistani and one as Bangladeshi.

Thames Valley Police has said child sexual exploitation will remain a priority. Since 2011, the force has invested £3.5m in dedicated resources to tackle the crime.

Head of the force's Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, Kidman said: "There might be people listening to this today and it may remind them of something that has happened to them, if that is the case then please pick up the phone and call Thames Valley Police on our 24-hour number 101. If you don't want to speak to police you can call Crimestoppers anonymously.

"We would encourage all victims of child sexual exploitation to come forward and speak to us in confidence. We will listen to you and we will support you."