Raid on suspected brothels

Three women were arrested in Cuthbert Street

Police in Londonderry have raided two suspected brothels in the the city.

Undercover and uniformed officers forced their way in to two houses at Cuthbert Street and Florence Street in the Waterside area of the city in a planned operation.

The police operation took place on Tuesday night.

Five women were questioned by police. Three of the women were arrested at Cuthbert Street, while two women went voluntarily to police from Florence Street.

They were later released pending the preparation of a police report.

A number of items were seized and have been taken away for examination.

Detectives suspect loyalist paramilitaries were protecting the house at Florence Street.

The group has not been named.

The police believe it could be linked to other prostitution rackets in the north west.

Police are understood to have been working on the case for several months.