FOUR people are under arrest today after police raided brothels in Ipswich and Colchester.

FOUR people are under arrest today after police raided brothels in Ipswich and Colchester.

Officers swooped at an address in Firmin Close, Ipswich and George William Way, Colchester yesterday evening.

Another address in Ipswich was also raided, although no arrests were made.

The raids were part of a joint operation between the newly formed Ipswich police Licensing and Sexual Exploitation Reduction (LASER) team, Essex Police and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Of the four people arrested, a 37-year-old female from Ipswich was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. She was arrested as part of the raid at Firmin Close and remains in custody at Ipswich Police Station.

The other three people were all arrested as part of the joint operation at George William Way in Colchester.

A 38-year-old male from Harwich was arrested on suspicion of keeping a brothel used for prostitution and a 20-year-old female from Colchester was arrested on suspicion of keeping a brothel used for prostitution.

A 22-year-old female from Colchester was arrested suspicion of keeping a brothel used for prostitution. All three remain in custody at Ipswich Police Station.

Detective Inspector Steve Denham said, “This is ongoing work by the LASER team to tackle off street prostitution and human trafficking. We will continue to carry out these operations where we have information to suggest that offences are taking place.”