Tuesday 10th February 2026

By Bridlington Gold Radio Editor

Humberside Police are continuing their work to tackle pop‑up brothels across the region — including here in Bridlington — and officers say local information is often the key to protecting vulnerable people who are being exploited.

The force’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) team is using Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week this February to highlight what residents should look out for.

Detective Sergeant Richard Kirk said the issue is very real in our area, and community awareness makes a huge difference.

He explained that the MSHT team works daily with colleagues across the force, including Criminal and Sexual Exploitation teams within the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit. Awareness campaigns allow them to bring in support from partner agencies, outreach charities, health services and adult safeguarding teams, creating a coordinated approach to identifying and safeguarding victims.

“Our priority is not to prosecute the people being exploited,” DS Kirk said. “It’s to protect them, raise awareness, and help communities understand that some individuals are being forced into providing sexual services for someone else’s financial gain.”

Pop‑up brothels are often found in ordinary residential streets, sometimes going unnoticed by neighbours who sense something is “off” but aren’t sure what they’re seeing. Police are urging anyone with concerns — in Bridlington or elsewhere — to report them.

Suspicious activity can be reported via 101, 999 in an emergency, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. There is also a dedicated Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700.

“With the help of our communities, we can safeguard women who are being exploited,” DS Kirk added.

Signs a property may be operating as a pop‑up brothel:

- No signs of a normal move‑in (no removals, no personal belongings)

- Sparse or temporary furnishings, suggesting no one actually lives there

- Multiple women being brought to or collected from the address

- A steady flow of vehicles visiting at all hours

- Frequent short‑stay male visitors

- Shop workers noticing the same women repeatedly depositing cash

- Taxi drivers regularly picking up or dropping off the same women at different addresses

Police stress that the women involved are victims — daughters, mothers, sisters — and deserve protection, dignity and safety.