WYNDHAM City has thrown its support behind a new police task force after council failed to gather enough evidence against a suspected illegal brothel operator.
Chief executive Kerry Thompson said council officers had investigated two suspected illegal brothels in Wyndham since 2010.
“These investigations resulted in warnings being issued in one case and insufficient evidence to establish an offence in the second. Wyndham City welcomes the establishing of a new Victoria Police task force to investigate illegal brothels,” she said.
Ms Thompson said the council had received no further complaints about the suspected illegal brothels.
Illegal brothel investigations have traditionally been a joint effort by police, councils and Consumer Affairs Victoria. But the state government
had committed to cracking down on the illegal sex trade last year, making Victoria Police the lead agency for investigations.
The sex industry co-ordination unit was set up on February 29. According to a police spokeswoman, the unit has conducted three investigations into suspected illegal brothels operating in metropolitan Melbourne and has charged two women for causing a child to take part in sex work.
Police have provided assistance to crime investigation units across Melbourne’s north, south and western suburbs about suspected illegal brothels operating in their areas.
William Albon, spokesman for the Australian Adult Entertainment Industry, which represents licensed brothels, estimated there were 400 illegal brothels across Melbourne due to an “ad-hoc government approach”.
