UK operation targets sex trafficking

The UK Border Agency yesterday launched its biggest ever operation against a suspected sex trafficking ring.

More than 150 police and UKBA officers were involved in the crackdown, which covered nine counties across southern and eastern England.

A total of 13 raids took place at suspected brothels and homes believed to be linked to the gang.

The year-long investigation led to the arrest of several suspects, including the alleged ringleader. The UKBA did not have total arrest figures immediately available.

A number of women believed to have been working at brothels were taken to a specialist centre for assessment.

The raids took place in London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire and Essex.

A UKBA spokesman said the men and women involved were mostly from South-East Asia and China.

The alleged ringleader was arrested for conspiracy to control prostitutes, human trafficking and money laundering offences.

Five brothel madams were arrested, and one person from China was held over immigration offences. More arrests are expected to be confirmed.

Sam Bullimore, assistant director of UKBA, said: “This is an investigation into an organised crime group that we believe is involved in human trafficking, sexual exploitation, money laundering and a host of other serious criminal offences.

“The UKBA has done other operations of this type in recent years but this is the biggest operation led by the UKBA into human trafficking for sexual exploitation.”

He said the focus of their investigations was not to just close down brothels but to find the “Mr Bigs” behind the gangs.

The Surrey operation was in Sunbury, at a two-bedroom flat above a Co-operative Funeralcare branch and next to the town’s library.

Police arrested one man, believed to be the brothel organiser, and one girl was taken to a care centre for sex workers run by the Salvation Army. They were both believed to be Chinese.

A man in his 40s was also found at the premises and spoke to police at length before departing.

Officers suspect the flat had been used as a brothel for around three weeks.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she had noticed lots of activity at the home.

“There’s been a lot of people going in and out but we just kind of let them get on with it,” she said.

“I’m in a bit of shock still at the moment. I’m a bit bewildered by it as I’m literally right next door.”

Mr Bullimore said the location demonstrated how sexual exploitation is taking place in the centre of communities.

“This place is a quiet suburb, it’s like everyone’s street and everyone’s town,” he said.

“It’s over a funeral parlour, there’s a library next door and a British Legion. It’s often hidden but the real impact is that people are brought from foreign countries – vulnerable women – who are trafficked. They don’t want to do this and they are being involved in sexual exploitation. It undermines communities. It’s often hidden but it’s something that you don’t want on your street and something that we don’t want in the UK, and that is why we are determined to tackle it.”