A HULL pub closed for a shocking catalogue of violence was at the centre of an investigation into a human trafficking and prostitution ring, the Mail can reveal.
Humberside Police investigated claims made last year that a group of Hungarian women were being forced to work as prostitutes at the Arctic Ranger in Orchard Park.
The women told police they were informed they would be given jobs as dancers in the country but were made to become sex workers.
The Mail understands the women were known as the "Arctic Angels" and the "Arctic Belles". It was claimed they were made to work from a room in the Hall Road pub.
Their passports had allegedly been seized by those running the ring.
PC Gordon Underwood, licensing officer for Humberside Police in Hull, said: "We received information the premises was linked to vulnerable people that were being brought to the area under false pretenses that they were coming to be dancers in a pub.
"Once they got here, the allegation was they had their passports taken off them and they were forced to work in the sex industry. It had been glamourised for them.
"We take allegations like this extremely seriously, particularly on licensed premises."
The women were unharmed and were supported by specially trained officers.
Although no one was prosecuted over the claims, the evidence formed part of the case for closing the pub this week.
It was shut down after city councillors heard about a series of glassings and violent attacks at the pub.
There are now calls for the building to be demolished.
Documents supplied to the hearing this week confirm police applied for the pub's licence to be reviewed after the allegations were made.
In a statement supplied to the committee, licensing officer PC Gavin Davie said: "This is the second review of the premises licence, although under different premises licence holders.
"The first review was brought about following allegations that the premises were being used for people trafficking and prostitution."
The review, in April last year, was held behind closed doors. It followed allegations being made earlier that year while a previous licensee was in charge.
Officers applied for the licence to be reviewed when the claims about human trafficking emerged because of concerns about "serious crime and disorder".
PC Underwood said: "After we found out about the allegations, we took swift action to get to get a review hearing within 48 hours, when the licence was suspended.
"At the full hearing, it was suspended for three months and the parties involved were removed from the premises."
The pub reopened with a new licensee in July last year. Police applied to shut it after a series of violent attacks since they took over.
Orchard Park ward councillor Terry Geraghty has now called for the building to be torn down.
Cllr Geraghty, who is portfolio holder for leisure and culture, believes the pub was not representative of life in the estate.
He said: "This kind of thing doesn't do any credit to the people of Orchard Park – quite a lot of people will be very upset about this because it's a great area to live.
"If it's closed permanently, I hope an order goes out for it to be demolished.
"It will be far better for it to be demolished because it's only going to be an eyesore if it's not."
