Police have raided 52 brothels in London's Soho in what is believed to be the biggest clampdown on prostitution in recent times.
Around 110 officers visited dozens of addresses in central London and 28 people were arrested, including two juveniles under the age of 16.
Scotland Yard said the raids followed eight months of intelligence gathering in a bid to stifle the vice trade in London.
Chief Inspector Chris Bradford said a lot more work needs to be done in London to prevent immigrant girls mainly from Eastern Europe from being exploited by ruthless pimps.
He added: "This is a great result we've achieved today. The existence of these premises in Soho and the very nature of what goes on within them means they act as a magnet for undesirable elements and activities.
"As far as we know this is the biggest simultaneous crackdown on brothels and prostitution in this country in recent times."
Police sources said that, in the brothels, it would be usual to have one prostitute and a maid to "keep the place tidy".