Three arrested after suspected brothel found in Melksham

[whaleears]

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[meatywsg]

"A man was also arrested on suspicion of using/paying for sexual services from a prostitute."
Would this be because it was a suspected brothel which is illegal? I was under the impression (wrongly?) that our hobby was legal between two consenting adults behind closed doors, but things could get grey if 2 or more ladies were working from the premises.
So would this make every Chinese rub'n'tug in the UK high risk to a punter?

[alabama1]

"A man was also arrested on suspicion of using/paying for sexual services from a prostitute."
Would this be because it was a suspected brothel which is illegal? I was under the impression (wrongly?) that our hobby was legal between two consenting adults behind closed doors, but things could get grey if 2 or more ladies were working from the premises.
So would this make every Chinese rub'n'tug in the UK high risk to a punter?

If it's a brothel, then (all things being equal), it's the prostitute that is breaking the law, not the punter.

[WelshClipper]

The way I understand from reading on here, you can only be arrested if the police suspect the prostitutes are being coerced. If the two prostitutes are independent then the punter is not doing anything illegal.

Nothing to stop the police arresting him and then letting him go afterwards I suppose. Also without knowing the circumstances it’s difficult to know why he was arrested.

But taking the reporters statement at face value, she is simply wrong , perhaps she didn’t look into it thoroughly, without knowing the law.

I think the public at large do see prostitution as illegal in general 

 

[martin1964]

There appears to be a real crackdown on these places in recent months. There were two places in Chippenham that got raided and had closure orders put on them around about October/November time as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is law enforcement poking around covertly on here to see what's happening. When TCM/AMPs get reviewed anywhere it's pretty much handing them information on a plate.

Out of the five Chinese Massage places in West Wiltshire only two now remain open, remains to be seen when they will next get a knock on the door!

[Bigwilts]

"A man was also arrested on suspicion of using/paying for sexual services from a prostitute."
Would this be because it was a suspected brothel which is illegal? I was under the impression (wrongly?) that our hobby was legal between two consenting adults behind closed doors, but things could get grey if 2 or more ladies were working from the premises.
So would this make every Chinese rub'n'tug in the UK high risk to a punter?

Section 53a of the sexual offences act - that the prostitute had been subject to coercion, has been exploited by a third party etc (whether or not the customer is aware)

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[WelshClipper]

Exactly. It is coercion and exploitation where the unsuspecting punter can be criminalised.

The police I am sure are aware of the law and acted accordingly.

But the reporters statement is just wrong and feeds into the negative narrative around paying for sex.