IT'S an industry generating millions of pounds a year in Bournemouth. It employs hundreds of people and thousands of men use its services.

But it also helps to fuel the drug trade, as well as people smuggling and organised crime.

Now in a major operation, Dorset Police believe they have made significant inroads in clamping down on Bournemouth's sordid vice industry.

Operation Sail is the biggest investigation into the seedy underworld and follows an increase in brothels being run in the area and a rise in the number men using them.

Intelligence gathered has revealed that there are at least 60 premises in Bournemouth selling sex.

Many advertise their services quite openly, with some publicising what they offer and placing pictures of their girls on the internet.

One Bournemouth brothel the Echo found on the internet charged £60 for half an hour - an illustration of the potential earnings of just one girl.

Since January 27, a team of 28 officers have been carrying out surveillance and last week they carried out simultaneous raids at three premises in the town - including two brothels.

Seven people were arrested for owning or managing a brothel and one illegal immigrant working as a prostitute was also detained. The illegal immigrant has been deported and the others have been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.

At an earlier raid at a separate address, police found a further three women who were illegal immigrants working as prostitutes. Their passports had been taken away by the owners of the brothel. They have since been deported back to their home countries.

Police say their investigations are continuing and further arrests are anticipated.

In the UK it is believed that 40,000 men seek the services of prostitutes each day. And between all the brothels currently operating in Bournemouth, it is believed they serve hundreds of men a day.

Detective Sergeant Mark Monaghan, who co-ordinated the raids, said: "The simple fact is brothels are illegal in this country, and to allow them is antisocial, immoral and advocating the abuse and exploitation of women.

"Bournemouth is a town with a good image, local residents and the police do not want this tarnished with this kind of sordid activity taking place on our doorsteps. No one wants to live next door to a brothel.

"The antisocial effect brothels have on the community is huge. We get reports of women, who are not prostitutes, being approached and harassed by men in the area, comings and goings at all hours of the day and night in local streets and men knocking on doors looking for the brothel."

He added that people who run brothels are often involved in other types of crime. For example, a considerable amount of counterfeit goods was seized at one of the properties last week and officers also detained financial records from one of the premises which revealed lucrative illegal earnings.

Other crimes include drugs, fraud, illegal immigrants and robberies.

DS Monaghan said: "The sex trade industry in Bournemouth is worth millions."

Dorset Police now warn other people living off immoral earnings that they could be next.

Inspector Mark Kelly, of the East Bournemouth section, said: "This is only the start of Operation Sail and over the forthcoming months we will be gathering intelligence and carrying out surveillance at other suspected brothels across the town.

"We are determined to disrupt this illegal trade and make sure that the ringleaders who make substantial earnings from the exploitation of often vulnerable women are brought to justice."

"In addition we will offer support to women working in the industry - many who are forced into prostitution by addition or financial difficulties - showing them that there are alternatives and putting them in contact with organisations that can help."

Speaking of the ongoing debate on the legalisation of brothels, Inspector Kelly said: "The evidence from other countries such as Australia and New Zealand is that it often creates more problems. For example, New South Wales in Australia have got more non-regulated illegal brothels than they had before since legalising them, and there has been more incidents of child sex abuse.

"It is a very complicated subject and should not lead to rash decisions."

Anyone with information about suspected prostitution is asked to call Dorset Police on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

First published: May 19