Weapons seized as former Birmingham brothel closed

Several weapons have been seized following an investigation into a former brothel in central Birmingham.

Officers from our Serious Organised Crime and Exploitation Team (SOCEX) worked with partners as part of a joint operation on Wednesday (10 June).

They visited the premises on Station Street where a brothel had previously been closed by our officers.

Our team found the former brothel rooms had been turned into a form of accommodation, while the snooker club underneath was also found to have been turned into a ‘bedroom’.

After a search of the premises, officers also found several realistic-looking air weapons, which were made safe and seized – and our investigation is continuing.

Because of the condition of the property and the concerns raised by officers, colleagues from West Midlands Fire Service were called, and an indefinite prohibition order has been served on the premises which includes a restaurant, snooker hall, and levels below.

This means that in the interests of safety, the building will remain closed until it can meet the necessary safety standards.

A man and woman in their 40s were also arrested on suspicion of immigration matters.

PC George Anstey, from SOCEX, said: “We regularly carry out proactive operations where we visit premises across Birmingham – ultimately to ensure the safety of the public, and to safeguard any vulnerable people who are there.

“This is often based on information we receive from the community and can include working in partnership with immigration, local authority, and fire service colleagues as well as officers from across West Midlands Police.

“This operation has seen several potentially dangerous weapons taken off the streets, and a building completely closed because of the state it was in.

“We’ll continue our work to protect vulnerable people and keep the public safe.”

If you’ve got concerns about a premises or suspicious activity in your area, call 101 or speak to us via Live Chat on our website.