Several arrests after residents report concerns
Police raided a house in Stagshaw Close, Maidstone, in August after complaints from residents it was being used for prostitution.
Two women were arrested on suspicion of running the business, while five other women were arrested for the same offence at a property in Lower Boxley Road the same day.
Officers served a closure notice and, after a case at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court, a closure order was granted.
It is the first time in Kent such an order has been granted under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Sergeant Nick Hatcher, of the Maidstone Community Safety Unit, said at the time: “This shows the effectiveness of neighbourhood engagement.
“Residents reported an issue to both the police and the local council and we have taken appropriate action.
“A closure order is not sought lightly but in this case the problems reported by the community were sufficient to justify this course of action.
“The closure will prevent anyone other than the owner entering the property for a period of three months.
‘We will continue to actively work with partners to pursue orders on other properties if they are associated with on-going incidents connected to sexual offences, anti-social behaviour or drug activity.
“My message to the residents of Maidstone is simple: if you have concerns about an address where anti-social behaviour or criminal activity is happening please phone us.”
All those arrested have now been released while the investigation continues.
Lithuanians Romas Drulia and Tomas Ziemys were both recently jailed for tricking women into applying for fake jobs before withholding their passports and keeping them as sex slaves. They were known to be operating at least 10 brothels across Maidstone, Malling, Medway and London.
Judge Jeremy Carey commented during sentencing: “This kind of sex trade is a blight on neighbourhoods.”
And last year 64-yearold Margaret English, from Bromley, was convicted of helping to run a brothel in a flat in College Road, Maidstone, despite protestations that she was merely the cleaner. The madam, Brazilian Francileide De Deus Santos, was given a police caution.