Three Men Nabbed in Hampshire Modern Slavery Crackdown
Three men have been arrested in Portsmouth, Southampton, and Basingstoke as part of a major police operation targeting modern day slavery in the sex trade.
Week-Long Raid Targets Sex Trade Exploitation
From Monday 26 June, multi-agency teams—including the police, sexual health workers, and support staff from the Medaille Trust—hit nine addresses linked to the sex trade. Over four days, officers arrested three men and offered safeguarding advice to 11 potential victims.
Focus on Protecting Victims
Detective Inspector Tim Chappell, leading the operation, said:
“This activity focuses heavily on safeguarding potential victims of modern slavery. We have a specialist team trained to engage with victims and lead these visits.”
He added,
“Many victims come from countries where police relationships are very different, so they may not know who to turn to for help. Our joint efforts show them there is support and a way out.”
Arrests Made Over Exploitation, Not Workers
While the main aim wasn’t to target those working in the sex trade, the police moved against those controlling and exploiting them. DI Chappell confirmed:
“Although the focus is not on prosecuting the commercial sex worker, we have made arrests connected to controlling exploitation.”
This week’s operation sends a clear message: Hampshire’s law enforcement is cracking down hard on organised crime feeding off vulnerable victims.
