Tower Hamlets council has successfully prosecuted a premises illegally offering sexual services.
On the 19th of June 2018, Cheng Xiang Chinese Medicine Limited, trading as Health one at 66 Middlesex Street, E1 7EZ was found guilty at Thames Magistrate Court of breaching the terms and conditions of their special treatment licence by allowing the premises to be used by prostitutes, for soliciting or any other immoral purposes.
The Council’s legal team and officers from the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service presented the court with evidence including an account from a client who was offered services of a sexual nature at the premises. The defendants argued that the sexual services offered did not amount to prostitution as they did not involve full sexual intercourse. However the court rejected their argument.
The company was ordered to pay a £1250 fine + £2000 costs + £125 victim surcharge.
The premises still has a licence to provide special treatments and will be monitored to ensure they are not breaching their licence. If they breach the terms of their licence to trade the council will seek revocation of their licence via the Licensing Committee, as it is an offence under the London Local Authorities Act 1991 and the councils conditions permitting the premises to trade to offer services of a sexual nature (immoral use of premises).
The council will now be monitoring these premises and if further breaches of legislation are found further action may be taken that may include the revocation of the licence permitting them to provide special treatments, effectively ending their ability to trade
Mayor John Biggs said: ”The council will carry out enforcement where businesses are operating outside of their licence to trade. This prosecution shows that businesses in the borough have to abide by the rules or will face consequences”
Cllr David Edgar Cabinet lead for Environment said: Cllr David Edgar, Cabinet Member for Environment, said ‘Residents will be pleased with this action and we will take further action if needed to stop businesses breaching their licences’.
All premises in London who wish to provide special treatments such as massage, Laser Treatments, tattooing, etc. must have a licence from their local authority permitting them to provide such treatments unless they are eligible for an exemption due to being a member of a recognised membership body.
Where services of a sexual nature are provided at the premises this is an offence under the under the London Local Authorities Act 1991 governing special Treatments.
- Press realise
