NO ‘RUB AND SHRUG’
Legit brothels hire a private investigator to probe the surging illegal sex industry as police taskforce boss jumps on ‘happy ending’ jokes
THE head of a police taskforce tackling illegal prostitution on the Gold Coast wants to stamp out “rub and tug” and “happy ending” phrases, saying it trivialises sex trafficking crimes. Taskforce detective inspector Juliet Hancock said: “In terms of exploitation, it is not a happy ending for that person being exploited.” Her war on casual attitudes to the flourishing illegal sex industry comes as a private investigator hired by legit operators reveals 49 illegal brothels masquerading as massage clinics near malls, post offices and GPs.
THE head of Queensland’s illegal prostitution-busting taskforce wants to stamp out phrases like “rub and tug” and “happy ending”, saying they downplay serious crimes including sex trafficking.
Queensland Police Prostitution Enforcement Taskforce Detective Inspector Juliet Hancock said there was a dark underbelly behind the jokes and casual language used regarding the illegal sex industry which involves exploitation of workers and sex trafficking.
“I think the language that we use is really important. I have heard the words ‘ rub and tug’ used and it’s not language that I use,” she said. “That phrase: ‘A happy ending’ well, I would say … ‘ A happy ending for whom?’. In terms of exploitation, it is not a happy ending for that person who is being exploited.”
Insp Hancock said the Taskforce did not target businesses but reacted to complaints made by members of the public.
“... It’s one of those things that you don’t know, what you don’t know. If we get a complaint of illegal prostitution we will investigate that,” she said.
“If people want to complain they can complain to Crime Stoppers or Policelink because the problem may well be a lot bigger than we know it is.”
She said in order to stamp out illegal prostitution, clients of such businesses needed to realise they were part of the problem.
“The client base of people who go to these places need to be enlivened to the fact if you visit a place offering illegal prostitution, there could be people being exploited there.”
Insp Hancock said taskforce officers had visited more massage businesses in 2020 because of police COVID compliance checks – and some were found to be illegally selling sex.
“This was about recognising there were some real health implications if someone is participating in an illegal act, the chances of them being honest when it comes to contact tracing was probably quite small,” she said.
She said the group planned to engage with local councils – including the Gold Coast City Council – in the coming year as part of a new strategy to identify illegal prostitution.
The plan to work closer with the council comes after retired Councillor Dawn Crichlow tried to wage war on illegal brothels flourishing in her Southport division in late 2017.