SPECIALIST officers have arrested a man on suspicion of rape following evening raids at Hanwell and other locations across London.

They conducted three search warrants simultaneously at these homes on Wednesday evening after receiving information about an escort business.

Vulnerable women with complex personal and financial issues were lured into working for the online business as a chance to earn money.

However, as part of the recruitment process, they were required to have sex with the owner.

The victims are aged 17-26, many of them students or travellers from overseas.

A man of 37 was arrested on suspicion of eight allegations of rape, controlling prostitution and fraud. A further two men, aged 28 and 46, were arrested on suspicion of trafficking and money laundering.

All three men remain in police custody.

Det Insp Mark Rogers said: “Through exploitation of vulnerable people, criminal networks can generate revenue for other organised criminality and they need to be stopped.”