A massage parlour in Birmingham has been forced to temporarily close amid concerns it was operating as a ‘brothel’.
Shangri La, located on Bishops Way in the Four Oaks area of Sutton Coldfield, will be shut until December 10 as part of an ongoing West Midlands Police investigation.
Although it was being advertised as a massage parlour, enquiries by the Serious Organised Crime and Exploitation Team (SOCEX) led officers to believe it was being used as a brothel where women were being exploited.
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On Wednesday, September 10, the premises was issued an emergency closure notice for 48 hours by officers.
However a day later, a three-month closure order was issued at Dudley Magistrates Court following an application by West Midlands Police.
Officers from the SOCEX unit had applied for the closure order as part of an investigation into indoor sex locations.
West Midlands Police said that its investigation into the premises and the people involved is continuing.
However the current order means that anyone who enters the premises risks being fined, arrested, or even sent to prison.
Sergeant Paul Lakey, from SOCEX, said: “We’re pleased the court supported our application to close this location for three months – the maximum amount of time we can apply for by law.
“Closing the premises is an important step in our investigation, which is continuing.
“We remain absolutely committed to protecting those who are vulnerable and ultimately making communities better places for people to live, work, and visit.”