News / Crime
Police raid prostitution and human trafficking rings
Three men were arrested in Redcliffe on suspicion of human trafficking and prostitution offences as part of a police anti-slavery swoop.
One woman was also arrested for immigration offences at a brothel in a residential area of Bristol in raids which coincided with Anti-Slavery Day last Tuesday.
The latest busts follow four arrests in a modern slavery and trafficking investigation in Bristol last month. The men were arrested for keeping a brothel, controlling prostitution for gain, human trafficking and money laundering. All four men have been released on bail while enquiries continue.
is needed now More than ever
Last week’s raids were part of Operation Perceptional, the UK element of an EU-wide series of joint busts, running from Monday, October 10, until Friday, October 21.
Chief inspector Mark Edgington, Avon and Somerset force lead for modern slavery and human trafficking, said the raids targeted people who “deliberately traffic vulnerable people into the UK for sexual exploitation”.
Police and crime commissioner, Sue Mountstevens, added: “Modern slavery is a hidden crime, rarely talked about and for many a crime difficult to imagine that in this day and age still exists. Let me be clear, modern slavery and human trafficking does exist, is happening on a daily basis and we can all do more to spot the signs.”
To find out how to spot the signs and report offences, visit www.modernslavery.co.uk. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111 or reporting online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Read more: If you’re caught with drugs in Bristol you may no longer be a criminal
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
