POLICE have defended the manpower used during a raid on an alleged brothel in York.

A resident has criticised York police for using 20 officers in the swoop, saying he finds it difficult to find one policeman in his own community.

Geoff Sowden, from Haxby, said he last saw a policeman on the beat there as far back as a year ago and claims the police are doing nothing to solve crime problems in the locality.

The Evening Press reported last Friday that more than 20 officers stormed an address in Nunnery Lane on suspicions that it was being used as a brothel.

Mr Sowden said: "I am very concerned that while we have problems getting hold of a policeman, they use 20 to do a battering ram raid to arrest three women. I find it quite incredible."

But an officer involved in the raid said it is vital such numbers are used in operations.

Detective Constable Bob Holland said: "We need to carry out raids like this in a matter of seconds to ensure we get all the evidence we need. As soon as the premises are contained then we can decrease the amount of manpower. Last week we needed officers at the front and rear of the building, several on different floors and female officers because we were expecting female prisoners.

"We also need people to bag up evidence and we don't know what we'll find until we get inside.

"The raid was a one-off job and no officers were taken from other areas to man it. They were mainly officers who wouldn't have been at work anyway and were brought in especially."

Mr Sowden went on to say that Haxby suffered from crimes of vandalism, such as youths damaging bus shelters, but said the police "took no notice" when alerted to the problems.

Inspector Howard Harding, who covers Haxby, said: "We have a community constable called Christine Ellison and she has been complimented many times on her work in the community in Haxby. Letters of appreciation have been sent to her on her visibility during foot patrols in the area."

Three women arrested in Friday's raid are currently on police bail.