Police have dismantled two Romanian-run brothels operating in Croydon in a swoop prompted by complaints from concerned local residents.

The brothels were discovered after officers from the Broad Green Safer Neighbourhoods Team carried out intelligence checks at an address on Chatfield Road in response to residents’ complaints about suspicious activity.

Pic: The Metropolitan Police

The team’s investigation established that the premises was being used as a brothel, leading officers from the Croydon Antisocial Behaviour Team and immigration officers to visit the address on July 23.

Officers found a number of rooms set up for sexual activity, while three Romanian women present at the address admitted to their involvement in the brothel and have since been served with papers to leave the UK within 30 days.

PC Chris Duffee from Croydon police’s ASB Team praised the role that the public played in identifying the brothel, which also aided the discovery of a second brothel in Norbury.

He said: “Feedback from locals since we’ve visited has been very positive and as a result of that visit, we’ve since discovered a similar situation at an address in Green Lane.”

Officers attended the address on Friday, August 8 and found 18 Romanian nationals – nine women and six men – at the address who were also served with papers to leave the UK within 30 days.

The premises on Chatfield House is now vacated, while regular visits to the Green Lane address will be carried out to ensure that criminal activity has ceased.

Police believe both premises to be privately owned, and are currently making enquiries to locate and contact the owners.

PC Duffee has encouraged residents who suspect similar activity in their neighbourhood to either contact Croydon police directly, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.