A man is due to appear in court today as part of a month long operation targeting human trafficking and modern slavery in Essex.

The operation running throughout October forms part of a nationwide crackdown on crime linked to trafficking including prostitution, forced labour, abuse and exploitation.

Officers will be working with partner agencies to identify and safeguard victims as part of the Government-led campaign which also aims to encourage members of the public to report suspicions to police.

On Tuesday, October 7, 2014, a 24-year-old man was arrested when police were called to an address in Wycke Hill, Maldon.

Gheorge Negreanu has been charged with intentionally facilitating travel of a person with view to their sexual exploitation, managing a brothel used for prostitution and controlling prostitution for gain.

He will appear before magistrates in Chelmsford this morning.

Two people have also been arrested as part of the operation.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2014, two men, a 21-year-old and a 38-year-old, were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and referred to the UK Border Agency after being found picking oysters on Southend beach.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Hooper said: "Essex has a number of ports of entry into the country. As well as Tilbury we also have Harwich Port, Stansted Airport, Southend Airport, and London Gateway which all provide means of entry into Essex and the UK which could be exploited by traffickers.

"Modern slavery goes beyond just the trafficking of people, it is also about their exploitation. Prostitution, forced labour, servitude and even the removal of vital organs for sale on the black-market are all forms of abuse that make up modern slavery.”