Police have rebailed nine people arrested in connection with brothel raids

Four women arrested and bailed following an operation targeting people trafficking in Ipswich have been rebailed by police.

A 45-year-old, 27-year-old, 23-year-old and 21-year-old have all bee requested to return to Ipswich Police station in October.

The arrests followed a multi-force and multi-agency operation on Wednesday, July 21, targeting people trafficking and prostitution.

Suffolk Constabulary led the operation which saw officers from Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Wiltshire and Devon and Cornwall execute five warrants at premises in Ipswich, Norwich, Harwich, Swindon and Tedburn St Mary in Devon.

Two men and one woman arrested in Norwich have also been rebailed, along with a man arrested in Hatfield and a woman arrested in Chelmsford.

All were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic person(s) into the UK for sexual exploitation, contrary to S57 or S58 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and conspiracy to manage, keep, act, or assist in the management of a brothel for prostitution, contrary to S33A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Five victims were also located following the searches. Two were located in relation to the Ipswich raid, one in relation to the Norwich raid and two in relation to the Swindon raid.