AN MSP has said managed prostitution is the only way to handle the vice trade in the Scottish capital after an unprecedented clampdown on alleged brothels led to claims of police intimidation.
Lothians independent MSP Margo MacDonald has written to the head of Police Scotland's Edinburgh Division, Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, raising claims of heavy handed tactics by officers.
A total of 150, along with social workers, were involved in raids on six saunas in the first wave of the operation last month.
She has also written to Edinburgh City Council leader Andrew Burns, urging the council to stick to its guns over its policy of licensing saunas. The capital is the only city in Scotland to grant entertainment licences for such premises.
Ms MacDonald said: "Few people love the saunas but no-one has come up with a better way of managing and containing the sex industry."
The operation, that has now included a sweep of all 13 saunas in Edinburgh, appears to represent a shift in the previous stance in the city.
Six saunas have had their licences suspended and five people have been charged with alleged brothel-keeping and living off immoral earnings.
However, Ms MacDonald said it had been claimed some officers had acted noisily during the raids and had been intimidating.
Ms MacDonald wrote to Mr Williams: "I would welcome your explanation and comment on the description of your officers' methods and behaviour reported to me by some of the sex workers they encountered."
She said neither she nor the sex workers questioned the right of Police Scotland to inspect the premises.
However, she said: "It has been alleged that the behaviour of some of your officers was intimidating. If this is the case I would be grateful for an explanation."
"Why, for example, was it considered necessary to strip search some women, but not all? Also, why was there an absence of the usual practice of issuing receipts for any confiscated articles?
"All of those making these allegations have complained of the noise made by officers. I am led to believe that officers were in no way impeded from carrying out their inspection."
In her letter to Mr Burns, Ms MacDonald wrote: "I hope the council is determined to continue with a system of managing prostitution which has served the community well over many years now."
However, she also suggested tightening inspection policies.
She said: "If there is an effective system of inspection there should be no need whatsoever for a repeat of some of the tales about hygiene, for example, which have leaked out from these current inspections. It's up to the council to insist that the various inspectorates entitled to enter the saunas do so effectively."
Police rejected claims of heavy handed tactics.
Mr Williams said: "On Friday, June 7, 2013, a multi-agency operation was carried out to inspect Edinburgh's licensed premises and tackle and detect any criminal activity; breaches of licence or risks to the public.
"Police Scotland and their partners undertook considerable planning prior to this operation, not only to ensure the inspections were carried out safely and efficiently, but to handle all of those inside each premises upon our arrival with sensitivity and compassion.
"Officers and other agency representatives were provided with extensive briefings on appropriate behaviour while within these venues and to date, we have received no complaints from any employee who was spoken to."
Mr Burns said: "I have received Margo's letter and will be happy to meet up to discuss further."
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, who has proposed legislation to criminalise the purchasing of sex, has welcomed the action by police.
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