Quote Originally Posted by Forward Must Hang View Post
Following on from the "Hornsby shop getting raided" thread and several other threads that pop up about raids, I'd thought I'd provide some facts about raids and inspections.

Councils

Brothels require approval from Council and can only operate in certain areas - some Council's don't even allow them in commercial areas but some do. Massage (i.e. legit remedial) doesn't need approval, it's a commercial use of a commercial shop (unless they do acupuncture which is skin penetration then it needs health licenses).

A lot of "massage" shops set up as massage but do RnT. Any sexual service makes it a brothel so "massage" shops can't do RnT unless they are approved as a brothel by the Council. That's why Council's employ Private Investigators - to get evidence of the "deed being done" because circumstantial evidence such as suggestive ads may not be enough for a prosecution.

Council's may look into that issue if they get complaints or the shop is advertising more than just massage. Normally Council won't care because they have better things to worry about and besides, massage shops operate fairly discreetly and the average passer by wouldn't know or care. Council health inspectors inspect approved premises to make sure condoms are being disposed of properly, the water used for washing towels and sheets is over a certain temperature etc.

Offences of planning and health are civil offences, not criminal. Council's don't need a search warrant to enter - they have powers of entry to a premises under various laws.

Immigration

Immigration attend on the lookout for visa breaches, illegal immigrants etc. Pretty narrow scope. Immigration offences are criminal offences so they need a warrant to enter.

Police

Cops don't raid premises over breaches of approval, or unauthorised development. Cops only care about whether there is a criminal law being broken (Council laws are civil laws, not criminal). So, cops look for underaged workers, drugs being sold etc.

Sometimes, cops, Council and immigration will do joint inspections.
I read that unscrupulous massage operators dob in their successful competitors, just to get them in trouble. Can you tell us if this is true, and how this works?
We discussed undercover Council inspectors. But councils can also have overt operatives with or without Police?
If so, then we all should definitely lock our doors during massage, and all rooms should have tampon disposal units in each room, to throw away any litter
I hate the thought that complaints to council are frivilous actions initiated by less successful businesses who offer the community an inferior service or less skilled ML. I want our best massage shops to succeed, without being hampered by crap competitors.
Your underlining technique is clever, I will use it too now and then

Objective
Lets all protect our local massage shop from getting in trouble, in anyway we can