List reveals 28 potential illegal brothels in Maroondah and Knox
An anonymous list has revealed close to 30 massage parlours suspected of operating as illegal brothels in Melbourne’s outer east.
Outer East
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Almost 30 massage parlours are suspected to be operating as illegal brothels across Maroondah and Knox.
Maroondah Leader was sent a list of 28 suspected illegal brothels, including five in Croydon, three in Ringwood and one each in Croydon North, Croydon South and Ringwood East.
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The list also included eight in Boronia, six in Bayswater and three in Mooroolbark.
The sender, who wished to remained anonymous, said the parlours offered a variety of sexual services.
They also claimed most workers were overseas students or visitors on visas, and they were paid cash with no records kept.
Australian Adult Entertainment Industry Association spokesman William Albon said the figures did not surprise him and he suspected there were more illegal brothels operating in the outer east.
He said illegal brothels could be involved in activities including unsafe sex practices, abuse and trafficking of women, organised crime, tax evasion, circumvention of migration, money laundering and drug distribution.
“Someone has got to have the police understand the magnitude of the problem and it has got to be recognised that this must become a priority policing matter,” Mr Albon said.
“It ranks up there with road carnage, domestic violence and substance abuse.”
Maroondah Mayor Rob Steane said Victoria Police were the lead agency in investigating suspected illegal brothels, and the council’s primary role was to immediately report any illegal activity to them.
He said the council could provide property information and “other intelligence to aid in the investigation and closure of illegal brothels”.
Ringwood police Senior Sergeant Colin Andrews and Croydon police Senior Sergeant Paul Frawley both said they were unaware of any parlours under investigation in their service areas.
Sen-Sgt Frawley said officers occasionally received anonymous reports about services offered at massage parlours and “follow up on them by paying visits to establish the proprietors and what activities could be going on there”.
Sen-Sgt Andrews also said officers irregularly received a small number of reports and “actively investigate” any illegal activity.
He encouraged anyone who suspected an illegal brothel was operating near them to phone police or Crime Stoppers.
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