A MAN from Ipswich has become the first person in Suffolk to be arrested for paying for the use of a prostitute after a brothel in the town was raided by police officers.

Officers executed a warrant at a suspected brothel in Firmin Close yesterday afternoon.

The joint operation between Suffolk police, the UKBA and Essex police was launched after officers received information.

A 54-year-old man from Ipswich was arrested and cautioned for an offence introduced in April 2010 of paying for the sexual services of a prostitute subjected to force, coercion or exploitation.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said the arrest was the first for this offence in Suffolk.

A 45-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and subsequently dealt with by UKBA.

A 23-year-old man from Ipswich was arrested on suspicion of managing a brothel. He has been bailed to return to Ipswich police station on Tuesday, May 24, while further inquiries are carried out.

Pc Janet Humphrey of the Licensing and Sexual Exploitation Reduction (LASER) team said, “This was a successful operation for the LASER Team and our partners.

“We will continue to carry out these operations where we have information to suggest that sex workers are being exploited, where community complaints have been received or where we believe human trafficking is taking place.”