EXCLUSIVE: Brothel operating from Romford Town Centre apartments - police probe if women trafficked

A BROTHEL has been operating from an apartment block in Romford Town Centre, police have confirmed.

Officers visited Equitable House in South Street after concerns were raised about activity there by members of the public.

The Romford Town Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) placed a sign in the window of the front door to the block on October 6.

SUSPICIOUS: The sign put up by police on the front door (EN&I)

The former offices above shops in South Street have been converted into modern apartments.

It said: "We have had reports of suspicious activity taking place inside one of the apartments in Equitable House."

It asked for residents to email in any "information you can supply us with to allow us to resolve this issue please."

NICE: Inside one of the apartments in Equitable House (Haart)

People have reported seeing girls of eastern European appearance being led by males through the same door.

PC Chris Stockman, from the SNT, said: "We had reports from a resident that one of the apartments was acting as a suspected brothel.

"We visited and found out it was and we have since heard from the same informant that it has continued."

Mr Stockman said officers would seek to establish if any women at the brothel were underage or vulnerable and being exploited.

CONCERNS: People have reported suspicious activity in South Street and Equitable House (EN&I)

He said: "We are seeking advice from the human trafficking unit and the welfare unit and are in the process of speaking to various officers and will be going back to the property."

He said it was not good for the local community to have to see this sort of activity and there had also been "some general reports about anti-social behaviour."

Anyone with information can email romfordtown.snt@met.police.uk or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on www.crimestoppers-uk.org/crime/report.

If you have any information please also contact Essex News and Investigations in confidence via jonaustinreporter@gmail.com.