Police safeguard people from Wolverhampton business suspected of being brothel

West Midlands Police brought its 'Operation Advance' to the city on May 16, which saw officers tackle issues including anti-social behaviour, serious violence and gang activity.

As part of the intensive day of action, officers from the force's Serious Organised Crime and Exploitation Team paid a visit to a city centre business which was suspected of being a brothel.

They safeguarded "a number of people" from the premises, police said.

Throughout the day, a total of 19 people were arrested on suspicion of offences ranging from drug supply and burglary to threats to kill.

In one incident, Class A drugs were recovered and men were arrested on suspicion of intent to supply following a warrant in Whitmore Reans and a car being stopped in Dudley Road, West Midlands Police said.

More than 500 knives were meanwhile seized from a shop in Whitmore Reans after they were found not being kept securely.

Chief Superintendent Jenny Skyrme, from Wolverhampton Police, said: "Op Advance was a day of arrests, seizures and high-profile activities and these positive results were also backed up with many opportunities to connect with the residents and people across the city.

"We know that having those conversations with the people we serve is vital as it helps us understand the issues that are concerning them most.

"There were additional resources in the city during the day and these have given us the chance to develop pathways to help us understand and serve our communities even better in the future.

"We want to protect the people of Wolverhampton from harm and deal with those people who are committing crime and those efforts are on-going each and every day."