Now the police are urging the public, the hotel industry and property owners to provide information on suspected sex trafficking, which according to the police is a major source of income for criminal actors.

- Feel free to be a curious neighbor who draws attention to strangers in the stairwell by asking who they should visit.

The goal is to disrupt the sex trade by increasing the risk for sex buyers to get caught, says Sara Svensson, head of the human trafficking group.

Efforts in smaller cities

The police in the region have made several efforts against prostitution, such as in Borås and Trollhättan where scouts have acted against suspected brothel activities connected to both Fyrbodal and Skaraborg.

In May, Borås police arrested two sex buyers, both admitted on the spot.

- You want to keep the business hidden and be anonymous.

They travel all over the country and are in one place for a couple of days up to a few weeks before changing.

If it becomes known that the business is in progress, they will move on, says Sara Svensson.

Information campaign

The police in Fyrbodal will for the first time carry out a targeted information initiative to draw the attention of property owners and the hotel and taxi industry to what they should be aware of.

- Now we are in a time where apartments are rented out second hand this summer. In order for us to know where to look, we need information from the public, says Susanne Arvidsson.

SVT Nyheter Väst has previously examined the sex trade in western Sweden.

In the clip, you see when sex buyers are caught red-handed in Gothenburg.

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Here, the sex buyers are arrested in front of a rolling camera in the middle of central Gothenburg.

Photo: SVT