Police target up to 100 brothels

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Up to 100 brothels are operating in Cambridgeshire, according to police investigating the sex-slave trade.

Sex traffickers are luring women into the UK from eastern Europe, Africa and the Far East with the promise of lucrative jobs, detectives said.

They believe brothels are being run under the guise of other businesses and from homes in quiet neighbourhoods.

A huge increase in calls about prostitution in the past year has seen more than 20 people arrested in Cambs.

Det Ch Insp Paul Fullwood said: "This is an evil and disgusting trade which has links with many other areas of crime and with the public's help we are determined to stamp it out.

"The people who run these establishments lure young girls to this country with all sorts of promises - like citizenship and successful careers."

Many are subjected to appalling violence and are moved around the county to be sold at auction to the highest bidder Det Ch Insp Fullwood

Det Ch Insp Fullwood told how many of the girls immediately have their passports confiscated by their captors.

"Then they are held captive in appalling conditions, forced to do things against their will and given little income or even the basic necessities of life," he said.

"Many are subjected to appalling violence and are moved around the county to be sold at auction to the highest bidder."

Last week Cambridgeshire chief constable Julie Spence called for more Government cash to cope with problems posed by an influx of migrant workers.

One of a number of issues she highlighted was a growth in prostitution - driven by the influx of large numbers of single men.