A brothel with four prostitutes has been shut down following a day of action from police, fire and council officers.

The discovery came following a fire brigade inspection of a flat above a shop in Northolt Road, South Harrow.

On entering the property, the fire officer found four women and man, at which point he called police who established it was a brothel.

The discovery comes on a day of action with Harrow Police, Harrow Borough Council and fire officers in Northolt Road.

Leader of the council Councillor Susan Hall, who was out with officers for the operation, said: “This just shows what can be achieved when we work with partner organisations.

"It is important the council, police, and fire brigade work together and show we care about Harrow and want to do all we can to make the area fairer and safer."

Harrow Borough Commander Chief Supt Simon Ovens said: “This day of action sends out a clear message to the people of Harrow that we are committed to making this the safest borough in London.

“We would not be able to carry out this operation without the help of partner organisations.

“This should also be a clear message to criminals that we will take robust action based on intelligence to make this borough as safe as possible.”

Officers also raided two properties on suspicion of drug offences and dealing, finding ten bags of cannabis ready for sale and arresting one man at a house in Westwood Avenue.

Throughout the day council staff have been helping clean up the area and remove graffiti and posters on telephone boxes.

Fire officers also found one shop in breach of safety regulations with a locked fire escape, which could lead to the prosecution of the landlord.

In June, Chief Supt Ovens launched a new campaign to make Harrow the safest borough in London over the next three years by reducing the number of crimes reported to police by 3,000.

Police in Harrow will be focusing on seven neighbourhood crimes set out by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).

These include violence with injury, robbery, burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle, theft from a person and criminal damage.

Since starting the push on crime in the borough Harrow has moved from the sixth safest borough to the fifth, overtaking Merton.