Police have made nine arrests after swooping on two properties in Derby (Picture: Derby Telegraph/BPM Media)

A major investigation into child sexual exploitation in Derby has seen nine men arrested as officers swooped on two homes.

They are being held on suspicion of what police have described as ‘conspiracy of sexual activity with a child’ and remain in custody this morning.

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Neighbours said they had seen men ‘coming and going’ from the house in the weeks before the raid.

At 10pm last night, officers carried out warrants in Loudon Street and Walbrook Road in Normanton and Pear Tree.


One woman, who lives in Loudon Street, told the Derby Telegraph what it was like living close to where the raid has taken place.



The woman, who did not want to be identified, said: ‘The property the police have raided is rented accommodation and, in the ten years I have been here, there’s been a number of different people live there.

Groups of men were seen ‘coming and going’ from one of the properties raided (Picture: Derby Telegraph/BPM Media)

‘Since the new people came about a month ago there’s been a lot of noise. There’s been loud music. There always seems to be different people about.

‘I saw loads of men coming and going at all times.’

This morning, police said the nine people arrested were aged between 20 and 47.

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Of those, Eight are from Derby, while another is from outside Derbyshire.

One of Derbyshire’s most senior police officers, Superintendent Tracy Harrison, has urged anybody with information that could help the investigation to come forward.

She said: ‘Local safer neighbourhood officers will be in the area to reassure people who have any concerns and they will be there to offer advice and support to members of the public.

‘I would encourage anyone who has any concerns or wants to talk about issues in their neighbourhood to go up and have a chat with the officers.

‘Similarly, if anyone has any information they feel might be of assistance to our investigation, they can speak to an officer, phone us on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’