19 women rescued from 'brothel'
Watch police raid
Nineteen women who detectives believe were tricked into becoming sex slaves have been removed from a massage parlour in Birmingham.
The women, thought to be from Eastern Europe, were led from Cuddles on Hagley Road on Thursday evening by a special task force of about 25 female officers.
Three people from the West Midlands - a woman and a man in their 50s and a 22-year-old man - were arrested.
A shotgun was found at the premises which police say is a brothel.
'Locked in'
The premises was found to have electric fences at the rear.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "The women are believed to be of Eastern European origin and were tricked into the sex industry.
"They had their passports taken. They were locked into the venue during the evening to work and taken away during the day and locked in a house."
Det Insp Mark Nevitt said the operation involved about 50 police officers and it was believed the women came from about 10 countries.
"We now need to... speak to them, debrief them and find out exactly how they got into the country and what their role is within this establishment," he said.
'Into the fire'
Amnesty International welcomed the raids but has called on the UK Government to do more to protect victims of trafficking.
Amnesty spokeswoman Sarah Green said there was no protection in law for victims of trafficking, who are usually classed as illegal immigrants and deported.
She said: "Most are deported without any care or support or assessment of the risks they face if sent back.
"Communities might not want these women back if they know what has happened to them and there is evidence of people being re-trafficked.
"If you deport them very quickly and arbitrarily, you are simply throwing them back into the fire."
bbc. news but I have highlighted the bit that made me pi$$!!
Watch police raid
Nineteen women who detectives believe were tricked into becoming sex slaves have been removed from a massage parlour in Birmingham.
The women, thought to be from Eastern Europe, were led from Cuddles on Hagley Road on Thursday evening by a special task force of about 25 female officers.
Three people from the West Midlands - a woman and a man in their 50s and a 22-year-old man - were arrested.
A shotgun was found at the premises which police say is a brothel.
'Locked in'
The premises was found to have electric fences at the rear.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "The women are believed to be of Eastern European origin and were tricked into the sex industry.
"They had their passports taken. They were locked into the venue during the evening to work and taken away during the day and locked in a house."
Det Insp Mark Nevitt said the operation involved about 50 police officers and it was believed the women came from about 10 countries.
"We now need to... speak to them, debrief them and find out exactly how they got into the country and what their role is within this establishment," he said.
'Into the fire'
Amnesty International welcomed the raids but has called on the UK Government to do more to protect victims of trafficking.
Amnesty spokeswoman Sarah Green said there was no protection in law for victims of trafficking, who are usually classed as illegal immigrants and deported.
She said: "Most are deported without any care or support or assessment of the risks they face if sent back.
"Communities might not want these women back if they know what has happened to them and there is evidence of people being re-trafficked.
"If you deport them very quickly and arbitrarily, you are simply throwing them back into the fire."
bbc. news but I have highlighted the bit that made me pi$$!!
