Detectives have made four arrests as part of a Kent prostitution probe, in a crackdown on modern slavery and human trafficking.

Officers in the county carried out four raids of properties in Cambridge, Croydon, Dagenham and Reading on Thursday.

During the searches, cops seized more than 70 phones, thousands of pounds in cash that could not be accounted for and three cars.

They believe the mobiles were being used to run brothels in Kent and further afield, prompting a number of other visits to ensure any vulnerable people were identified and safeguarded.

A police spokesman said: "A 40-year-old woman from Cambridge, a 26-year-old woman from Croydon, and two men, one aged 36 from Cambridge and the other aged 37 from Dagenham, were arrested during the operation.

"Lina Wang, 40, of Bartlow Road in Linton, Cambridge, and Chung Fu Wang, 37, of Blackbourne Road in Dagenham, were charged with conspiracy to control prostitution for gain.

"Lina Wang was also charged with money laundering."

They both appeared in front of Medway magistrates on Friday and have been remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on September 17.

The 36-year-old man from Cambridge and the 26-year-old woman from Croydon have not been charged but remain under investigation.

DS Stacey Chapman said: "Modern slavery is a hidden crime and it’s rare that victims come forward, which is why it is necessary for us to carry out proactive operations like this one.

"The exploitation of sex workers is often linked to organised national and international crime networks, involved in human trafficking, drugs and money laundering.

"Safeguarding vulnerable victims is at the forefront of the work we carry out and officers work alongside partners and charities to shut down suspected brothels and identify those being exploited on a regular basis."

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