Hotel Watch - About

Wiltshire & Swindon Hotel Watch seeks to connect the police with the local hotel, B&B and guest house industry across Wiltshire and Swindon, so we can share information that can help keep your guests, staff and premises safe from the threat of illegal activity.

Typically these activities include the following:

Pop-up Brothels

Hotel rooms, B&Bs and serviced, short-term let apartments are often booked to be used as locations for people to meet and pay for sex.

Signs of sex workers using hotels:

  • Working singly or in pairs from one room
  • Would have frequent visitors coming through the hotel, who are only staying for a short period of time
  • Often refuse any cleaning or servicing of their room for the duration of their booking
  • Request to pay cash for their stay
  • Cleaning staff may find visible signs of their trade in the room such as used condoms, packets of condoms, lubricants
  • Could be acting under duress and victims of Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking.

Please record car registrations of any vehicles used by suspected sex workers or individuals involved with them and report suspicions on bookings please call 101, or call 999 in the event you believe someone at your premises is in, or at threat of, immediate danger.

Some hotels have revised their policies to specify that no room goes un-serviced for 24-48 hours and is therefore accessed by cleaning staff who may identify signs the room is not being used appropriately.

Child Sexual Exploitation / Child Criminal Exploitation

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a form of child abuse and is illegal.

Possible signs to look out for:

  • Young people with significantly older associates, appearing to act as though they are in a relationship
  • A young person who appears withdrawn/terrified/controlled or tries to hide their face, won’t speak, make eye contact or has bruises or similar injuries
  • Multiple older visitors to a room at regular intervals
  • Rooms used by young people with a lot of condoms/condom wrappers, drugs/drug paraphernalia
  • Young people not seeming to know their exact location

You may be able to stop this from happening, please:

  • Ask for ID of guests who appear to be under the age of 25 – both in the licensed area and when delivering alcohol to rooms
  • Report anything suspicious to the police

You will find more information on the Wiltshire Police website: Child Sexual Exploitation https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/caa/child-abuse/child-sexual-exploitation/

Modern Slavery

Modern slavery is the exploitation of people and can take many forms.

Possible signs of victims:

  • Physical appearance – malnourished, unkempt or appear withdrawn and neglected; there may be untreated injuries
  • Isolation – rarely allowed to travel on their own or interact with other people; seem under the control or influence of others; appear unfamiliar with their location; lack identification documents
  • Few or no personal possessions, always wearing the same clothes
  • Unusual travel times – dropped off / collected for work on a regular basis either very early or late at night
  • Reluctance to seek help – avoid eye contact and appear vague; hesitant to talk and fearful of law enforcers; they may be accompanied by someone else who speaks for them

You will find more information on the Wiltshire Police website: Modern Slavery https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/ms/modern-slavery/

County Lines

Hotels and B&Bs can be used by drug dealing networks which run across various counties:

  • Groups working these networks tend to be gang related
  • Guests might have multiple mobiles with extra SIM cards, make cash payments and use a hired vehicle
  • Younger more vulnerable people may be under their control, given tasks to do (as runners) and have little or no money themselves
  • Drug dealers normally operate from two or more premises at any one time

You will find more information on the Wiltshire Police website: County Lines https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/cl/county-lines/

Missing People (MISPERS)

People go missing for many reasons including personal choice, mental health issues or to escape situations.

They may:

  • Avoid eye contact and appear vague, hesitant to talk and seem fearful of people in authority and law enforcers
  • Lack identification documents and have few personal possessions
  • Be distraught, not wishing to engage in conversation
  • Decline offers of assistance – have no means of travel
  • Be vulnerable

Please ask staff to note down a full description and report this to the police, preferably before the person moves on.