Text entered

Suspected brothel raided in Blyth

Northumbria Police

5 November 2009


Not in My Neighbourhood - Suspected brothel raided in Blyth.
A 59-year-old man was arrested as police today closed a brothel in Blyth where it was suspected prostitution, money laundering and immigration offences were being committed.
Officers targeted a premises at Stanley Street on Thursday morning, November 5, having acted on community intelligence that the premises was being used as a brothel.
The arrest has come as part of Operation Clydesdale, a multi-agency operation targeting brothels in the north east and crime groups which organise and finance prostitution.
It is a coordinated campaign of activity led by Northumbria Police and the Regional Intelligence Unit with support from UK Border Agency (UKBA) and the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC).
Blyth Neighbourhood Inspector David Felton said: “Organised prostitution is a national issue and that is why we have carried out this multi-agency operation to target those who seek to profit from exploitation.
"We always respond to concerns raised by our communities and this operation was based on community-led intelligence. They told us that they had concerns and we acted on them."
“There are a relatively small number of brothels in the region, however the human suffering and exploitation involved in trafficking women for organised prostitution is still considerable.
“We work with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) to close down brothels.
“We will continue to work to close down brothels, and people who organise and seek to profit from prostitution and human trafficking will be arrested and put before the courts.”
The work carried out coincides with Not In My Neighbourhood Week, which runs throughout this week and     highlights the work taking place in communities by police, local agencies and other partners.
Anyone with information about crime and disorder in their neighbourhood should contact police on 03456 043 043  or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A year 59-old-male from Stanley Street, Blyth was arrested for managing a brothel used for prostitution and is currently helping police with their enquires.