Southport man arrested on suspicion of running Welsh brothel

A Southport man has been arrested by Welsh police during a crackdown on ‘pop-up’ brothels in the south of the country.

Stephen Norton, 51, from Southport appeared before Blackpool Magistrates Court on September 30 charged with running a brothel.

Both Norton and a woman from Morecambe who faces the same charges have been granted Court bail.

The arrests follow an investigation by Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales.

The investigation, which has been supported by Gwent Police also revealed information that has led
to wider investigations being conducted in Fife, Kent, the Midlands and along the M4 corridor.

Detective Chief Inspector Steven Maloney said: “Tarian and Gwent Police have worked together
to identify and close a number of suspected ‘pop-up brothels in the Newport area.

“Following a detailed investigation, on Wednesday September 29, officers visited two addresses in the north-west of England and arrested a man and a woman from Southport and Morecambe on suspicion of running a brothel.”