THE first brothel closure order in Essex has been granted following a police raid.

The order to close a brothel, above Pizza Domain, in London Road, Westcliff, could be the first of many in the borough to rid the area of the crime.

Essex Police and the UK Border Agency managed to get an order from Southend Magistrates’ Court on Friday, following a raid on the flat.

The premises have now been sealed up for the next three months so it can no longer be used as a base for prostitutes.

Det Sgt Andy Harvey, of the UK Border Agency’s immigration crime team east, expects this to be “the first of many” orders to shut down brothels across Essex.

He said: “This is not a one-off.

“The new powers to shut brothels down are there to be used and we intend to use them. We want to send a clear warning to anyone involved in the running of a brothel in Essex, that we will close them and keep them closed.”

Fiona Philpott, deputy force solicitor for Essex Police, had to prove in court the flat was being used for prostitution, that it needed to be sealed to prevent it operating, and that officers had tried to contact everyone who lived on the premises or had a responsibility for it.

They had to pay a £200 court fee.

PC Adam Rogers, of the UK Border Agency, told magistrates in his experience the order was needed because otherwise the brothel could be back up and running by the weekend.

He explained this is because they are usually operated by orgainsed gangs who use a ‘chicken house’ system, where the women are regularly moved on, as are the male ‘maids’ who manage the site.

PC Rogers said: “They’ve no regard for the maids or the women working in the brothel. They are replaceable.

“There had been two previous raids at the address, but each time it was back up and running again. Last time, a poster was put up the very next day saying they were open for business.”

The flat and the pizza takeaway downstairs are listed on the Land Registry as belonging to a Mr Gahazanfar Hussein. But he had let the premises out to another man, and the court heard two further men were involved in gentlemen’s agreements there.

l Sheng Li Liu, 48, of London Road, Westcliff, appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with management of a brothel. He was remanded in custody until October 12 for a committal hearing at the same court.

l A 39-year-old woman from China, whose immigration checks revealed she had entered the UK illegally, is being dealt with by the UK Border Agency.