DETECTIVES have secured charges against two men in connection with an investigation into human trafficking for sexual exploitation, rape and other sexual offences.

Officers from the Serious Crime Directorate at Essex Police carried co-ordinated searches at premises in Danbury, Maldon, and Braintree on Wednesday (6 May) and arrested two men.

Since then we have been liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service.

We can now confirm that 57 year-old Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and 32 year-old Scott Drewitt-Barlow, both of Southwood Chase, Danbury, have both been charged with multiple offences including rape, sexual assault, and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.

They are both due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today (Friday 8 May).

If anyone has information relating to our investigation we would ask they contact us via our Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP): https://mipp.police.uk/operation/4201020126R89-PO1

We have also set up an incident room which you can call on 0800 051 4526 or 0207 126 7612 for international callers. 

Victims of sexual offences have anonymity for life under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and nothing should be published that could lead to them being identified.