Vice squad officers have been inundated with tip-offs from the public about brothels in residential areas after publicity in the Telegraph & Argus.

Police are receiving more new intelligence after stories about previous raids gave the public increased confidence to tell them about houses being used for prostitution.

Vital information was helping them clamp down on off-street brothels, which have been plaguing streets.

And it has emerged that communities have been spurred on to provide police with information after reading about the positive action being taken to tackle the sex trade.

The vice team is taking increasing action to disrupt the brothels, which are often set up in terraced houses in areas where families and children live.

And officers are playing their part in encouraging women involved to turn their backs on prostitution.

Sergeant Tom Casey, head of the Bradford Vice Team, said members of the community had been given the confidence to contact them with information, following publicity in the Telegraph & Argus about previous brothel raids in Lidget Green and Laisterdyke . “Since then, people have given further information and felt confident enough to report similar matters to us,” said Sgt Casey.

“We have made a number of arrests as a result of information provided by the community concerned about brothels and prostitution within residential areas where families and children live.”

He said information was being given to police community support officers and neighbourhood policing teams, and was also being provided by community leaders and councillors. The team has even been contacted by Bradford East MP David Ward after concerns were raised by a constituent.

In the last fortnight, six women have been arrested and given adult cautions after raids on suspected brothels in houses at Barkerend and Bradford Moor .

A similar raid on a house in Allerton in July also resulted in the arrest of three women.

And eight arrests were made during co-ordinated swoops in Lidget Green and Laisterdyke in June. Sgt Casey said the brothels were being found across the district, mainly in terraced properties in residential areas. Women involved were from all walks of life and included foreign nationals and UK citizens.

Their ages have ranged from late teens to mid-50s.

Sgt Casey said there was a common theme of vulnerability among the women.

He said: “We take an holistic approach, tackling the problem with partners and support agencies. We often find the women are in financial difficulties, they have children they need to support, and in some cases they are telling their families they are in legitimate work, such as cleaning or bar work.

“They have got themselves in a position where they feel they have no alternative to prostitution.”

He said for a first offence they were given a caution and officers refer them to support agencies for housing, education, health care and employment. But a second offence would result in prosecution.

Sgt Casey said the team was having an impact, with help from the community.

He encouraged the public to report any suspicions they had as soon as possible to the 101 number, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111. Tell-tale signs of brothels would include men not from the area going to and leaving the houses on foot or in cars.