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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police raids over online brothels | Police raids over online brothels |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police have made 12 arrests as part of a major operation targeting brothels operating via the internet. | Police have made 12 arrests as part of a major operation targeting brothels operating via the internet. |
| More than 100 officers investigating a prostitution and people-trafficking network searched 19 premises across central London. | |
| Police believe criminals have been using an internet escort agency as a front for organised prostitution. | Police believe criminals have been using an internet escort agency as a front for organised prostitution. |
| It is alleged the network operates by trafficking women from abroad and then coercing them to work as prostitutes. | It is alleged the network operates by trafficking women from abroad and then coercing them to work as prostitutes. |
| Our intention is to arrest the subjects of the operation for trafficking, controlling prostitution and money laundering and to identify and rescue victims of trafficking Ch Supt Ian Dyson | Our intention is to arrest the subjects of the operation for trafficking, controlling prostitution and money laundering and to identify and rescue victims of trafficking Ch Supt Ian Dyson |
| A total of 110 officers are involved in Operation Gib, which is being led by the Metropolitan Police with support from Surrey Constabulary and the Norfolk Constabulary. | A total of 110 officers are involved in Operation Gib, which is being led by the Metropolitan Police with support from Surrey Constabulary and the Norfolk Constabulary. |
| Police said they hoped to rescue an estimated 60 foreign women who they believe had been forced into prostitution. | Police said they hoped to rescue an estimated 60 foreign women who they believe had been forced into prostitution. |
| By 0900 BST on Sunday, 30 women had been taken to a specialist centre staffed with interpreters, health workers and officers trained in sexual offences interview techniques. | By 0900 BST on Sunday, 30 women had been taken to a specialist centre staffed with interpreters, health workers and officers trained in sexual offences interview techniques. |
| Plainclothed officers carried out searches in the Paddington area of London and at another address in Surrey. | Plainclothed officers carried out searches in the Paddington area of London and at another address in Surrey. |
| Ch Supt Ian Dyson from the Metropolitan Police said internet prostitution was a growing problem. | Ch Supt Ian Dyson from the Metropolitan Police said internet prostitution was a growing problem. |
| 'Biggest of its type' | 'Biggest of its type' |
| Police have been monitoring the network for around four months. | Police have been monitoring the network for around four months. |
| Speaking before the operation, which was launched in the early hours of Sunday, Mr Dyson said: "Tonight is the culmination of a three to four-month investigation into a network of criminals who have controlled prostitutes through an escort agency website were upwards of 60 women have been involved in prostitution with a degree of coercion involved. | Speaking before the operation, which was launched in the early hours of Sunday, Mr Dyson said: "Tonight is the culmination of a three to four-month investigation into a network of criminals who have controlled prostitutes through an escort agency website were upwards of 60 women have been involved in prostitution with a degree of coercion involved. |
| "Our intention is to arrest the subjects of the operation for trafficking, controlling prostitution and money laundering and to identify and rescue victims of trafficking." | "Our intention is to arrest the subjects of the operation for trafficking, controlling prostitution and money laundering and to identify and rescue victims of trafficking." |
| He said the operation was the "biggest of its type" against brothels operating via a website. | He said the operation was the "biggest of its type" against brothels operating via a website. |