The number of people arrested by Thames Valley Police for running or managing brothels in the Thames Valley has been revealed.

Following a freedom of information request, the force has confirmed that 16 people have been arrested in the past two years for offences relating to the illegal sex industry in the Thames Valley region.

Although prostitution is legal in the UK, it is an offence to control a prostitute for gain, run a brothel or solicit sexual services in public.

Figures released by Thames Valley Police show that from February to December 2021, 10 people were arrested for such offences.

READ MORE: Police uncover TWO brothels in Bucks community

So far in 2022 (up to July), a further six people have been arrested.

In 2021, one male was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to manage or assist in the management of a brothel. No arrests were made in 2022.

Last year, four males and two females were arrested for keeping or managing a brothel for prostitution. In 2022, two males and two females were arrested for the same offence.

One female was arrested for keeping a brothel in 2021, while two men were caught doing so in 2022.

Finally, in 2021, two males were arrested for soliciting another for the purposes of obtaining their sexual services as a prostitute in a street or public place. No one has been arrested for this offence in 2022.

The statistics indicate that while there are only a small number of these offences taking place each year, illegal sex work and exploitation is present in the Thames Valley.

In July this year, police in Buckinghamshire confirmed they had located two brothels in the Aylesbury Vale region as part of efforts to safeguard women and girls in the Thames Valley. 

In this instance, a closure order was enacted on one of the brothels.

Although it is too early to say for certain, the data indicates that there has been a consistent amount of offending in 2022 compared to the previous year.

There are numerous national and local charities that support sex workers and victims of sexual exploitation. These include Care, Beyond The Streets and Equality Now.

If you have any information on a suspected brothel in the Thames Valley, you should call the police on 101.