A major crackdown on human traffickers has seen more than 50 arrests in Kent, including one in Ramsgate.

Figures from the Pentameter 2 campaign, spearheaded by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office, were released this week.

Kent Police are one of the top three forces dealing with the issue of trafficking, along with the Metropolitan Police and North Yorkshire Police.

Trafficking sees victims of all ages often deceived into working in the sex trade.

Coordinating the operation in Kent, which started last October, Assistant Chief Constable Allyn Thomas said: "While the main objective of this campaign was to identify and rescue victims of trafficking, we are continuously working to make sure that those organised crime groups who are at the centre of this activity are repeatedly targeted.”

Kent Police visited more than 50 premises during Pentameter 2 to identify and help victims of trafficking.

They arrested 50 people for offences including management of a brothel, conspiracy to traffic women for the sex trade, immigration offences and money laundering.

Those included Yoke Chan Li, 56, of Margate Road, Ramsgate, who was sentenced to eight months imprisonment on May 1 for conspiracy to control the activities of prostitution for gain.

She was recommended to be deported on completion of her sentence.

Kent police have urged people to be on the look-out for signs of people being trafficked.

Victims commonly show signs of anxiety, disorientation, isolation and distrust of the authorities, and may show signs of physical or other abuse and malnutrition Mr Thomas added: “Kent Police will not tolerate this unacceptable and inhumane treatment of vulnerable people and will bring those responsible to justice.”