Australian Adult Entertainment Industry want police and Monash Council to close illegal brothels
A peak adult industry body is calling on authorities to clamp down on shady sex dens in the city’s east in a bid to “level out the playing field” for licenced brothels.
East
Don't miss out on the headlines from East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A peak adult industry body is calling for authorities to clamp down on dodgy Monash sex dens.
With an estimated 20 illegal brothels in the area, the Australian Adult Entertainment Industry wants Victoria Police and Monash Council to shut them down and “level the playing field” for licenced brothels.
IN FOUR YEARS KINGSTON COUNCIL HAS SHUT 18 ILLEGAL BROTHELS
BROTHEL THE DAILY PLANET NOW ‘DODGY’ DRUG REHAB CENTRE
DOZENS OF ILLEGAL BROTHELS BUSTED
Association representative William Albon said police should be prosecuting and dissuading illegal brothels owners and operators.
Mr Albon said there were only eight legal brothels in Monash and some members of the association were concerned there was not a level playing field.
He said illegal brothels could also be involved with organised crime, tax evasion, lack of safe sex practices, circumvention of migration laws and violence and trafficking of women.
“The association’s intention and disappointment is the police who, now with six years with a dedicated unit, has very few runs on the board and virtually nothing in terms of prosecuting the owners and operators of illegal brothels,” Mr Albon said.
He said the council needed “act in the interest of ratepayers” and take action through the planning and environmental laws.
But Victoria Police sex industry co-ordination unit Insp Jody Buckley said officers took all allegations of illegal sex work seriously and encouraged anyone with suspicions of a dodgy brothel to contact Crime Stoppers.
“Victoria Police and council compliance officers can take action against illegal brothel operators by having premises proscribed and charging the owner of the business with offences against the Sex Work Act 1994,” Insp Buckley said.“Our objective is to protect and support vulnerable women and (we) are targeting operators of these premises.”
Monash Mayor Shane McCluskey said the council worked with Victoria Police to identify and take action against illegal brothels.
He said the council and police had closed down four illegal brothels in recent years, while others had stopped trading once the council started making inquiries.
“We take these matters seriously and operate within the parameters of our legal powers,’’ Cr McCluskey said.
“We take seriously the health and safety of people working and visiting brothels as well as community expectations about stopping illegal brothel operators.”
MORE NEWS
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT CONCERTS ACROSS MELBOURNE
’You stole joy’: Family of slain couple slams killer driver
One man deciding to “have an adventure” left a family with “so much heartache and pain” when he sped through a Caulfield South red light and collided with a couple’s car at almost 220km/h.
Police investigate overnight ram raid in Pakenham
A commercial building in Pakenham was ram raided overnight with the offender stealing a power tool and knocking down a security fence.