Nine arrested and women rescued in Luton suspected brothel raids Published duration 11 December 2019

image caption Police said they had seen a recent "dramatic rise" in the off-street sex trade in the area

Nine people have been arrested and 11 women rescued during raids at suspected brothels.

Police raided 15 places on Tuesday night where they found Romanian and Hungarian women, in their 20s, believed to be victims of sexual exploitation.

The searches, in Luton, were part of an investigation into human trafficking, exploitation and modern day slavery.

The five men and four women are suspected of managing and controlling brothels, among other charges.

They include six Romanians, one Hungarian and one Briton and are in custody at Luton police station.

image caption Five men and four women were arrested in the raids

The raids were part of Operation Thame and the latest intelligence-led operation involved 150 police officers and specialist staff.

Officers seized substantial amounts of cash and at one property three officers were attacked with pepper spray.

The rescued women spoke little or no English and were taken to a place of safety.

image caption Police carried out simultaneous raids on 15 suspected brothels

Insp Jim Goldsmith said some women are offered contracts to come to the UK to work in a proper job but "unfortunately that's not the case" and the raids were the "tip of the iceberg".

"We've seen quite a dramatic rise over the last eight to nine months in the off-street sex trade in Luton which has seen numerous brothels open and as such, has prompted the action we've taken.

"We try to keep these woman as safe as we can and that was the purpose of [these raids] to take the women out of that environment, give them the opportunity to exit that life and get them back to their families."

Those arrested:

Man, aged in his 50s, held on suspicion of human trafficking

One man and two women, aged in their 30s, arrested on suspicion of keeping a brothel

One man and two women, aged in their 20s, held on suspicion of keeping a brothel

One of the women aged in her 20s, is also held on suspicion of money laundering

Man, aged in his 40s, arrested on suspicion of money laundering, possession of a firearm and assaulting an emergency worker

Man, aged in his 40s, held on suspicion of possession of a firearm