Vice ring busted


Local vice ring busted

Police raid properties in Acton and make nine arrests

A four month operation against prostitution concluded this Thursday with a series of raids and arrests. In all eleven properties were searched including addresses in Acton. Nine people have been arrested on suspicion of controlling prostitution, living off immoral earnings, and false imprisonment.

Properties were raide on Gunnersbury Avenue, Churchfield Road and Acton High Street.

Originally police believed that two prostitution rings were in operation but further investigations revealed that the scale of the operation was larger than thought. A total of eleven women were detained at a number of the addresses. It is thought that they were working as prostitutes for those arrested. These women will be interviewed by police in order to gather intelligence and evidence.

Superintendent Chris Bradford, head of operations at the Clubs and Vice Unit, said the intention was to cause maximum disruption to people running prostitution rings.

"Today's arrests are part of our ongoing work to destroy the structures that trap and coerce women into the vice trade in London.�

The operation was funded by money from the National Crime Squad�s Operation Reflex.

July 25, 2003