Police Say Shepherd's Bush Road Clinic was Being Used as a Brothel
Organic Hammersmith is refused a new licence by H&F Council Committee
Organic Hammersmith, a Chinese medical clinic in Shepherd’s Bush Road, has been refused a Special Treatments licence by H&F Council's Licensing Committee after police alleged that it was being used as a brothel.
The clinic, at 52 Shepherd's Bush Road, claimed it was offering "natural therapy practices". However, when police visited the clinic on 28 August 2018, they reported that from the evidence gathered, it appeared that sexual services were being offered on the premises.
Three individuals working at the premises were also
arrested for immigration offences.
A warning letter had already been sent to sent on 28 March 218 in relation to a complaint that sexual services were being offered at the premises.
Organic Hammersmith previously held a premises licence in 2017/18 which expired on 31 July 2018, permitting special treatments in the form of body massage treatments.
An application for a new licence for Special Treatments, including Acupuncture, Body Massage, Indian Head Massage, and Reflexology was subsequently considered by H&F Council's Licensing Committee on 5 December.
The meeting was told that police strongly recommended that the licence be refused, with the following information from the Home Office saying: "
On 28 August 2018 following information from the Home Office Police officers
arrested three females for immigration related offences. Officers have also
identified evidence of sexual services being provided at the premises.
"
On 19 September 2018 the Police received a phone call from a male member
of the public who stated that his friend had attended the premises and had
unprotected sex with one of the masseurs. The male had then contracted an
STD following this encounter. The informant provided police with a link to a
review of Organic Hammersmith. The review was found on a website called UK
Punting which is an online review website for paid sex."
Witness statements from the police reported finding condoms, lingerie and a large amount of cash on the premises.
The business's owner Ms Hongmei Zhuang, who is a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner, denied the police's allegations, and Organic Hammersmith's lawyer, Richard Barca, described them as "absurd " and said the company was condering an appeal against H&F Council's decision.
January 4, 2019