13 December 2012 Last updated at 11:32 ET

East London men arrested over child sexual exploitation

Four men in east London have been arrested on suspicion of child sexual exploitation.

Acting on intelligence from Essex Police, Metropolitan Police officers raided properties in Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Newham.

The Met said four identified victims were aged between 16 and 18 at the time of the offences.

The arrested men are currently in custody in east London.

Det Insp Kevin Hyland, of the Met's trafficking and prostitution unit, said the victims identified so far were all young and vulnerable.

"We are working with Essex Social Services and other service providers to ensure that all victims we identify during our investigation receive the care and support that they need," he said.

The arrested men are two 25 year olds, from Barking and Newham, and two 23 year olds from Romford and Leyton.

Among the offences they are suspected of are trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation, controlling a child prostitute and rape.