Migrant prostitutes SWAMP Swindon as 30 new ‘pop-up’ brothels open EACH WEEK

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There are as many as 30 new 'pop-up' brothels appearing in Swindon each week

The migrant prostitutes working there are largely from eastern Europe and are linked to criminal gangs who traffic women from Poland and Romania.

Up to 40 women were selling sex in rental properties for a few weeks before moving to a different house.

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It is the latest of several holiday hotspots across Britain, including the South West and the Lake District, which were being exploited by gangs running ‘transient’ brothels.

Detective Sergeant Chris Hitchcock, of Wiltshire Police, said: “Many of these women move between addresses within the town as well as outside of it.

“Of these 40, we estimate they populate 20 to 30 brothels in short-term to medium-term rental properties.”

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The number of suspected brothels in Swindon jumped from 60 in 2014 to 112 in 2015

Not every girl that we come across has been trafficked, but they are largely vulnerable

Det Sgt Hitchcock

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Police officers were attempting to “intervene and see if we can offer safeguarding, and see if organised crime is involved, as often as we can”.

Det Sgt Hitchcock added: “Not every girl that we come across has been trafficked, but they are largely vulnerable.

“The girls are often subject to assault and put in financial debt as well.

“With that comes quite a degree of control over them.”

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Landlord have been warmed to look for telltale sales

The number of suspected brothels in Swindon jumped from 60 in 2014 to 112 in 2015.

Between 170 and 190 women currently being monitored in Swindon were “predominately” being looked into on prostitution allegations, according to Det Sgt Hitchcock.

Landlords letting properties on a short term basis have been warned to look out for tell-tale signs such as paperless transactions, cash payments, multiple occupancy and being approached by groups of two women and a man looking to rent.

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Devon and Cornwall Police revealed earlier this year that criminal gangs were using holiday lets in Newquay as brothels.

Officers discovered 14 properties being used for prostitution since July last year.

Inspector Dave Meredith, of Newquay police, said: “They move quickly, they book them online and they advertise their services via the internet.

“Certainly you wouldn’t see anything in the local papers or women touting for business in the street. It’s all web-based.”