Rise in pop up brothels across South Yorkshire

Police say more and more girls are being exploited by criminal gangs in pop up brothels across South Yorkshire.

The force is highlighting modern slavery to businesses and the public today and says sexual exploitation's one of the biggest forms it takes here.

Fifty four slavery victims have been helped in South Yorkshire this year but police think the true number affected is much higher.

DS Nikki Leach says pop up brothels are a particular problem:

"These girls, they may not be forced, arm up their back, tied to a radiator, that's not how it presents. It may be through coercion and choice through no other choice. Organised crime groups are managing these girls and moving them around and making massive amounts of money off the back of them. These girls are gaining very little out of what they're doing.

"These pop up brothels take place in residential premises and can go undetected for a number of months. There may be men coming and going from a property, taxis coming and going from a property, and neighbours think something strange is going on there but they're not sure what it is. Well if that's the case, report it in and we can take a look at it."

Our region's the second worst for modern slavery behind London - DS Leach says it goes under the radar:

"People don't even realise this kind of crime is still going on. They think it's in the history books. It's actually a modern day crime that's happening and it's never really gone away. Raising awareness in the public about how they can spot the signs will obviously help increase reporting."

Today the police and other agencies across the UK are raising awareness of the issue as part of Anti Slavery Day.

Emily Martin - from the Salvation Army - says there are signs to look out for:

"If your car wash is charging you £4.50 to wash your car, full valet, they'd need to be washing about 300 cars a day in order to pay minimum wage. If people aren't wearing the right equipment in car washes or on construction sites, then something's not quite right."

If you want to report something, you can use the Modern Slavery Hotline - 0800 0121 700