Hundreds of police raid brothels, sex shops and lap dancing clubs in Soho in crackdown on drugs and people trafficking
- More than 200 police in riot vans swooped on premises in Soho, London
- 29 people arrested as part of 18-month operation to tackle organised crime
- A dozen women found in squalid rooms have been taken to safe locations
- Officers seized class A drugs, cash and stolen mobile phones from clubs
PUBLISHED: 10:24, 5 December 2013 | UPDATED: 20:40, 5 December 2013
Brothels, sex shops and lap dancing clubs have been raided by more than 200 police in a major crackdown on organised crime in central London.
Officers made 29 arrests as part of an undercover operation to root out drugs, prostitution and people trafficking in Soho.
Around a dozen women who were found in squalid rooms after apparently being brought into the country for prostitution were taken to safe locations for questioning.
Scroll down for video and an interactive map
Crime hotspot: Women, believed to be sex workers, cover their faces as they wait to be questioned by police during a major crackdown on drugs, prostitution and human trafficking in Soho, London
Swooping in: Two hundred Metropolitan Police officers raided several premises in Soho as part of an 18-month undercover operation
Commander Alison Newcomb said: ‘This part of London (Soho) has been almost a constant feature as a crime hotspot for the Metropolitan Police’
Questioned: A woman is interviewed by a police officer during the raids on sex-themed businesses in SohoDuring the 18-month investigation, detectives found evidence linking drug dealers and stolen goods to a number of properties including 22 brothels, three sex shops, two lap dancing clubs and a cab company.The premises were targeted by officers in riot vans, supported by a police helicopter and sniffer dogs, from 9pm last night.
More…
They seized class A drugs, cash and stolen smartphones.
More arrests were made this morning and officers are still searching over 20 addresses, including the homes of many of the suspects.
Taken away: Police officers make an arrest as part of a crackdown on drugs and human trafficking in Soho
Suspect: A man is arrested as part of the operation, but it has not been revealed what alleged offence he is being held on suspicion of committing
Major investigation: Detectives found evidence linking drug dealers and those buying stolen goods to a number of properties including a cab company, brothels, clubs and sex shops in the area
Commander Alison Newcomb of Westminster Police told The Evening Standard: ‘Yes, its edginess is why some people come here, but when they do come here we want them to be safe, not to be robbed, and enjoy their night out.’
People are 146 times more likely to be robbed in Soho than in the rest of the UK.
Cdr Newcomb said: ‘These operations have given us a much clearer intelligence picture and evidence of connections between criminals and crime types that were happening in Soho, from street drug dealers to links with human traffickers.
Investigation: A woman believed to be an employee of a business advertising massages covers her face (left), while (right) a police officer waits in the entrance of a premises
Targeted: More than 200 officers raided brothels, sex shops and lap dancing clubs in the area
Held: An officer handcuffs a man (left) outside one of the locations while another (left) leads a woman away
‘This part of London has been almost a constant feature as a crime hotspot for the Met so we have used a range of specialist officers, skills and policing tactics to make this a hostile area for criminals to try and operate in.’
The Metropolitan Police will now apply for closure orders to shut down premises linked to serious crime.
Click on this interactive map to see evidence gathered during the operation
Officers from the Met Police and the UK Border Agency were accompanied by sniffer dogs during the raids
Gathering evidence: An officer leaves a location with a sniffer dog (left), while others search a premises (right)
Cdr Newcomb said: ‘The next step will be to work to close a number of the brothels where we have evidence of very serious crimes happening, including rape and human trafficking.
‘Financial investigators will now follow the money trail and will go where the evidence takes them, unpicking if there are broader criminal networks involved.
‘We will continue to do all we can to make this a hostile environment for criminals to try and operate in. The next phase of this operation is already in the planning.’
Crackdown: During the 18-month investigation, detectives linked drug dealers and stolen goods to a number of properties including 22 brothels, three sex shops, two lap dancing clubs and a cab company
Decisive action: Police will now apply for closure orders to shut down premises linked to serious crime
Councillor Philippa Roe, Leader of Westminster City Council, said: ‘The night time economy is a cornerstone of the West End’s success and, as part of the West End Partnership, Westminster City Council works to promote the area as a safe place for law abiding people to live and do business.
‘Drugs, theft, handling stolen goods and human trafficking have no part in that which is why Westminster City Council stands shoulder to shoulder with the Metropolitan Police Service in Operation Demontere.
‘Together, we’re sending the clear message that the insidious tentacles of the criminal underworld will not be allowed to spread through Soho unchecked and unchallenged.
‘Tonight’s raids struck a significant blow against the criminal infrastructure. Now, however, we want to be just as clear that Westminster City Council is ready to help any vulnerable woman – themselves victims of crime, trapped in a way of life where they have little or no control. For us, their safety is paramount.’
Financial investigators will now follow the money trail to see if there are wider criminal networks involvedCodenamed Demontere, the operation has been months in the planning using evidence gathered by undercover officers and other policing tactics to target those people using various businesses as a front for handling stolen goods.
Previously, operations – codenamed Jolt and Rense – have taken place since May 2012, using a range of policing tactics and specialist officers from across the Met, to tackle the drugs market in Soho.
To date, as part of these operations, 73 drug dealers and users have been arrested, being jailed for over 170 years in total, or have anti-social behaviour orders in place against them.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2518613/Soho-brothels-sex-shops-lap-dancing-clubs-raided-crackdown-drugs-people-trafficking.html#ixzz2megb9ZqZ
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
4 comments on “Hundreds of police raid brothels, sex shops and lap dancing clubs in Soho in crackdown on drugs and people trafficking”
Leave a comment
Top Posts & Pages
![The Pleasure Lounge is still closed 10 days after the police raids [now a Chinese massage place called White Lily Spa]](https://kingslandrogue.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img-20131213-02812.jpg?w=40&h=40&crop=1){kind=small}
The ERNST GRAF JOURNALS on Kindle & in Paperback
Recent Comments
 | Mostaza on CLUB 487 IN NEW CROSS CLOSED D… |
 | Trotsky on London Strip News — Wool… |
 | Dan on London Strip News — Wool… |
 | Vandal76 on ‘THE UN-WILLING CHEEKS O… |
 | sissymaid on Fury over unlicensed Finsbury… |
Serpent's Egg 
This is the latest update from another site (Friday 6th Dec 9pm):
1 Bateman Street [metal shutter down] – didn’t see
20 Berwick [boarded up] – still boarded up
11 Brewer St – seems open now
61 Dean St – didn’t see
21 Greek St – closed with notice on door as per thecat’s later post
52 Greek St – didn’t see
4 Lisle St – seems open now
10 Little Newport – seems open now
18 Newport – seems open now
27 Peter St [Banner on front say ‘premises closed by police’] – didn’t see
6 Peter St – didn’t see
34 Romilly – seems open now
Tisbury Court – didn’t see
26 Wardour St [Banner on front say ‘premises closed by police’] – didn’t see
Open – all as reported below
2 Lisle St
3 Lisle St
8 Greek Street
28 Peter St
1 Greens Court
2 Greens Court
70a Berwick St
“She is planning a major conference of experts on prostitution in France and Europe. “Since the 19th century and the role of Josephine Butler [the Victorian feminist], Britain and France have been the core countries in the international mobilisation against prostitution. I really hope that these common roots are still alive.” She hopes to meet Theresa May to open discussions on “how we tackle women’s issues together, such as prostitution and human-trafficking”.—French Minister for Women’s Rights, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem in June, 2012
It is interesting that in October the police raided and shut down just one flat at 26 Romilly Street. It was like they were testing the waters, to see what the reaction would be to that, before launching their all out assault a month & a half later.
And the raid started just hours after France passed their new law making it illegal for men to use prostitutes. It was like Theresa May was waiting to hear if the law got through the French parliament before giving the green light to the police shutting down Soho over here??
It’s like LA Confidential, the way a photographer just happens to be on hand when the arrests are made. If they are doing this to “protect” the girls, why force them to be photographed and splashed all over the national newspapers, desperately trying to cover their faces?