Hamilton scrambling in fight against massage parlours selling sex - Hamilton Spectator

[massage]

The city is rewriting its licensing bylaw in an effort to better regulate massage parlours suspected of selling sex.

Right now, the city only licenses two "body rub" parlours that can legally offer erotic massage services. But there are dozens of licensed "personal wellness" establishments — which can include anything from hair dressers to spa services — in the city that could offer clients a massage.

Licensing director Ken Leendertse said up to eight such businesses are suspected of offering sexual services on the sly, based on complaints from residents and councillors.

"The problem is proving it," he said, explaining bylaw officers aren't trained to collect the necessary evidence to make a provincial offences charge stick.

Cracking down is also more difficult now, he explained to councillors at Tuesday's planning meeting, because new federal prostitution laws have outlawed advertising of paid sex and shifted the focus of police enforcement to human trafficking.

Police and bylaw officials will still team up periodically to inspect massage parlours, Leendertse said, but it's now harder to "prove a criminal act" behind closed doors.

He said the city is examining a bylaw rewrite that could include changes such as insisting on licences for individual employees at personal wellness establishments, or limiting legal operating hours for businesses.

In the meantime, the city has not given up on enforcement, he said.

A slew of provincial offences charges against employees and the owner of an alleged illegal body rub parlour on Parkdale Avenue North will be in court later in June.


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