Newspaper editors should be arrested for running brothel ads, says cop (From Surrey Comet)
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Newspaper editors should be arrested for running brothel advertisements, says cop
1:10pm Wednesday 25th March 2009 in Wandsworth
A police officer who has worked with trafficked women said editors who earn a living from adult advertisements in newspapers should be arrested.
Detective Sergeant Peter Quinn works closely with the Croydon Community Against Trafficking (CCAT).
He said: “If I had my way I would go down there and nick the editors for living off immoral earnings.
“Since I have been involved with CCAT, it outrages me that both national and local newspapers run adverts that are blatantly about brothels.
“Look at the South London Press and the Croydon Advertiser. How anyone can hide behind the excuse that adverts for massage parlours are general adverts is beyond me.
“You can’t tell me that there is anyone in south London who wants to go to a massage parlour for a rub down.”
Newsquest, the publisher of the Croydon Guardian, took the lead in banning all adult advertisements in July 2008 in all of their 305 titles nationwide, having been persuaded of the clear link between the ads and women being trafficked for sex.
However, other local newspapers across the country still benefit from thousands of pounds a month from the ads.
DS Quinn said exploitation in brothels was obvious.
In his experience brothels used to be run by women, but police are finding more and more off street brothels are now being run by men “directly controlling and exploiting the females there”.
“He said: “The women in those brothels fear escaping because of the threat to them and the threats of intimidation against their families.”
He added that in most cases human traffickers knew where the girls lived and who their families were.
DS Quinn said: “If you do get a service from someone who is giving it freely and makes a living out of it then that is fine.
"If the person giving that service does not have the freedom of choice and gets no money from it, that is outrageous.”
He encouraged members of the public to call the police if they suspected there was an active brothel in their area.
He said: “We will act on all information we get.
"We need the public to talk to us.
"If they suspect a brothel in their neighbourhood we need to know.”
Both newspapers mentioned were contacted for comment but have yet to respond.
Comments(14)
Sue Sweet
says...
4:39pm Wed 25 Mar 09
s this proves that sexual services should be licenced?
Andrew Bird
says...
12:47pm Thu 26 Mar 09
Fleur Gatfield
says...
2:21pm Thu 26 Mar 09
tramlinker
says...
5:02pm Thu 26 Mar 09
Sue Sweet wrote:You have a good point there Sue though I imagine that our good friend Anne will not agree with you.By the way,where is she lately?sainsburys still?
So if "someone is giving it freely" as written above without any co-ercion,how does she advertise her 'services'?In other words,how do the newspapers know whether she is trafficked or whether she is self-employed?Perhap s this proves that sexual services should be licenced?
ANNE GILES
says...
5:14pm Thu 26 Mar 09
tramlinker
says...
5:25pm Thu 26 Mar 09
ANNE GILES wrote:Well we'll give you a day off then! :)
Busy. Off to teach soon. Was at Albert Hall last night, not home till after 1 a.m. This morning had over 40 e-mails at home.
Brenda Sewer
says...
5:47am Fri 27 Mar 09
Sue Sweet
says...
7:54am Fri 27 Mar 09
Brenda Sewer wrote:Oh my God!I don't know whether to laugh or cry at your spelling.
wehn we used to live inCroydon like it was all englisg girls they was like and Brian says that it was because they had no educaoin so theys must work.But they were nice girls and freindly with everyone not like now
scofffer
says...
11:34am Fri 27 Mar 09
Brian Tarring
says...
11:57am Fri 27 Mar 09
Sue Sweet wrote:we don't have no spelling in lovely Tarring ha ha
Brenda Sewer wrote: wehn we used to live inCroydon like it was all englisg girls they was like and Brian says that it was because they had no educaoin so theys must work.But they were nice girls and freindly with everyone not like nowOh my God!I don't know whether to laugh or cry at your spelling.
ronnie ron
says...
12:15pm Fri 27 Mar 09
I have contacted CG myself asking that my post be removed if it has broken any rule of theirs or indeed law. It is certainly not my intention to do so. I merely wished to provide information to those that care that is already very much in the public domain. Lastly I would like to stress that a person's political opinion is not reason for action against them other than to be challenged in an open and honest fashion. Anyone stupid enough to take an action outside of the law or even reason would receive my total condemnation, PLOP!!!!!
ANNE GILES
says...
1:59pm Fri 27 Mar 09
ronnie ron wrote:This is known as the "broken record" technique.
I have contacted CG myself asking that my post be removed if it has broken any rule of theirs or indeed law. It is certainly not my intention to do so. I merely wished to provide information to those that care that is already very much in the public domain. Lastly I would like to stress that a person's political opinion is not reason for action against them other than to be challenged in an open and honest fashion. Anyone stupid enough to take an action outside of the law or even reason would receive my total condemnation, PLOP!!!!!
Brian Sewar
says...
4:23pm Fri 27 Mar 09
Bob Peel says...
3:24pm Wed 25 Mar 09
He doesn't know very much then: What about the Maltese crime boss Jean Agius, the domination of brothels and strip joints and the take from certain police officers, some high ranking that lead onto Operation Countryman?