Child abuse suspects were arrested during a series of police raids in Bradford.

Nine arrests were made by a team of ten officers from the Child Protection Unit as they swooped on addresses around the district yesterday.

And the detective leading the operation warned that the raids were only the start of a prolonged campaign against perpetrators of crimes against children.

The nine were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including indecent assaults going back decades, physical abuse of children and neglect.

Collaboration between the police, Bradford Council, NSPCC and other agencies laid the groundwork for the raids which have been in the planning since September.

Among the places targeted were addresses in East Bowling, Wibsey and Holme Wood.

Detective Sergeant Steve Hopwood, from the child protection unit which is based at Eccleshill police station, said none of the arrests were linked but said organised rings and groups could be part of future raids.

He said: "This is the first operation we have carried out, but there will be more. We are planning on doing more of these in the future as part of a concerted effort to respond to victims' views and complaints and deal with offences which we take very seriously."

"Some of these cases are historical and have only come about after adults came forward to us who were abused in their childhood," said Det Sgt Hopwood. "It has been a very successful day and sends out a clear and strong warning to those who commit child abuse as well as showing the victims how determined we are to tackle it.