POLICE have ordered a suspected brothel to close after reports of antisocial behaviour.

Officers issued the closure order to Brighton Belles massage parlour in Waterloo Street, Hove on Sunday.

It follows a raid last December when a man and two women were arrested on suspicion of running a brothel and human trafficking.

Concerns have been raised about antisocial behaviour at Brighton Belles.

Yesterday neighbouring businesses told The Argus there have been crowds of men outside in an alley using abusive language and urinating in public.

Kevin Dutton was previously a manager at the neighbouring Seadragon Backpackers hostel, which shares the alley entrance with Brighton Belles.

He said: “There were times when there were queues ten deep in the alley waiting to enter Belles.

“We had a lot of young women staying with us as solo travellers, having to walk about men vomiting, urinating and being verbally abusive.

“Guests had to walk past streams of urine in the street.”

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court an order was made under the Anti-Social Behavour, Crime, and Policing Act to shut Brighton Belles.

In a statement the police said: “Brighton Magistrates’ Court issued a closure order, under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, on Brighton Belles in Waterloo Street, Hove, yesterday.

“The three-month closure order was granted after a number of reports from residents to the police and city council regarding anti-social behaviour incidents outside the premises.

“These included noise, drunkenness, drug dealing and threats being made to the public.

“Police have been in consultation with partner agencies regarding the closure order, including the safeguarding of the employees.

“Last December, a 59-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman, both from Hove, and a 54-year-old woman from Brighton, were arrested on suspicion of causing or inciting prostitution for gain and keeping a brothel.

“They were also arrested on suspicion of controlling prostitution for gain, keeping or managing a brothel used for prostitution, and arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.

“The man and the 57-year-old woman were additionally arrested on suspicion of possessing a weapon for the discharge of an electrical incapacitate.

“The man and the woman aged 57 have been released under investigation.

“The 54-year-old woman has been released without further action.”