DETECTIVES have uncovered an operation that included brothels and modern slavery offences in Ealing and across other areas of London.

The officers engaged with more than 40 women who were discovered to be working in brothels across the Capital.

Between Monday, November 30 and Friday, December 4 officers from the Met's Central Specialist Crime Modern Slavery and Child Exploitation Unit carried out welfare visits at 18 addresses in nine boroughs across London.

All the addresses visited were identified as brothels and were located in Ealing, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Merton, Newham, Enfield, Haringey, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster.

Detective Chief Inspector Helen Barling, from the Specialist Crime Command, said: "We know that in many cases females providing sexual services have travelled from overseas, often fleeing poverty, lured by the promise of a well-paid job in the UK.

"However, upon arrival the situation couldn't be more different.

"Their exploiters take their ID documents and they end up working in brothels - sometimes forced to.

"They can also end up in debt bondage where they owe money that they will never be able to repay to people they had trusted.

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"Physical and mental abuse is common, as are threats of violence against family members at home.

"The public have an important role to play in recognising and reporting modern slavery.

"If you suspect someone may be a victim of modern slavery, report it.

"You will always be taken seriously and protection and support is available."

A total of 46 women were spoken to and offered support from partner agencies, including The Salvation Army.

Of those, five were identified as potential victims who displayed indicators of modern slavery.

The women spoken to were found to be from the UK, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Romania.

One man, a 36-year-old Hungarian national, was arrested on Thursday, December 3 on suspicion of controlling prostitution.

He was taken to a north London police station where he was interviewed and released under investigation pending further enquiries.