POLICE have today charged 31 people with a string of offences including rape and trafficking on children as young as 12.

The 30 men and one woman have been held in connection with non-recent sexual offences that occurred between 2005 and 2012 against five women in Huddersfield.

West Yorkshire Police said the alleged abuse was carried out when the women were aged between 12 and 18 years old.

The 31 suspects will appear at Kirklees Magistrates Court on September 5 and 6 charged with offences including rape and trafficking with intent to engage in sexual exploitation.

They are all aged between 29 and 42 and 12 cannot be named for legal reasons.

West Yorks Police said: "Detectives in Kirklees have charged 31 people with numerous offences including rape and trafficking with intent to engage in sexual exploitation.

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"The allegations against the defendants are non-recent sexual offences, having occurred between 2005 and 2012 and relate to five women.

"The offences were committed against them as children in the Huddersfield area and are alleged to have taken place while the women were aged between 12 and 18-years-old.

"The 30 men and one woman will appear at Kirklees Magistrates Court on 5 and 6 September 2018."