Police brothel raid - pictures

A team of police officers, immigration officials and a Vietnamese interpreter swooped on a one bedroom house in Newland Street at around 6pm on Thursday.

Stunned neighbours looked on as a man in his early 50s and a woman, believed to be in her 40s, were arrested at the house and taken away in a police van.

Chief Inspector Sharon Rowe, Worthing's district commander, said investigations had suggested illegal immigrants forced into prostitution were being kept against their will at the house.

She said: "We set up an operation to watch the premises and got permission from magistrates to carry out a warrant at the address. Clearly it is being used as a brothel and two arrests were made.

"Our priority is the impact on the community and particularly residents afraid of men turning up at all times of the day and night for half an hour and then leaving."