Three women were arrested inside the luxury flat several floors above ground in Little Neville Street in the operation led by the new Leeds police city commander, Chief Insp Vernon Francis.

* CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO FROM THE RAID ON THE SUSPECTED LEEDS CITY CENTRE BROTHEL.

A large quantity of cash was seized from the flat by the City Neighbourhood Policing Team along with character costumes including police uniform, handcuffs, magazinies, condoms, a massage certificate, hotel leaflets and mobile phones.

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The three women arrested on suspicion of operating an illegal brothel against the Crime and Disorder Act are believed to be of Taiwanese origin.

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Two are aged in their 20s and the third is aged 40.

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All three women were later released on police bail.

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The closure raid comes just three months after the same flat was raided by NPT officers armed with a warrant who arrested the same 40-year-old woman on suspicion of managing/controlling a brothel following a series of complaints from residents.

She has been on police bail pending further enquiries.

The latest raid follows a large number of allegations from local residents about antisocial behaviour, including women working as prostitutes around the clock and male clients visiting the premises at all hours of the day and night.

Today, Leeds Magistrates' Court was to be asked to ratify the official closure of the premises to anybody other than an approved resident for a period of three months and to hear any appeals against the action.

If approved the closure is believed to be the first secured against a brothel in West Yorkshire since the introduction of laws permitting properties to be closed in November last year.

Anyone else entering the premises in those months commits an offence.
Since the introduction of the new closure laws Neighbourhood Policing Teams across West Yorkshire have secured orders against several housing association and privately-owned properties.

Later, Chief Insp Francis said: "We have conducted an operation at a premises which was suspected of being operated as a brothel.

"We have entered by force and have arrested three women believed to be Taiwanese citizens.

"This has been an intelligence-led operation following complaints from residents and neighbourhood policing at its best."