POLICE and immigration officials raided eight saunas yesterday in the centre of Glasgow.
The raids followed an exclusive report in The Herald last month, which revealed that Strathclyde police, Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue were among agencies planning co-ordinated raids on brothels across the city.
Strathclyde police said a large number of uniformed and plain-clothes officers took part in the series of ''co-ordinated and simultaneous raids''.
A spokeswoman said immigration officials had interviewed women of various nationalities. She added that reports will be submitted to the procurator-fiscal.
One of the saunas raided was Parkgrove House. Last month, The Herald detailed how prostitutes were being advertised on its website as bonded labour - a contemporary form of slavery. Some may be illegal immigrants, making them powerless to resist. Women's organisations feared the women were being coerced to work on demand to repay loans.
The Herald revealed how Parkgrove House - a brothel thinly-disguised as a sauna and massage parlour - thrived in Glasgow, despite being refused an entertainments licence 10 months ago. The city council, licensing committee and police have no powers to close the premises.
Parkgrove's website said it had 35 women at the west end premises and told potential customers: ''Security and peace of mind are critical, which is why every staff member is bonded.'' That was a clear reference to bonded labour according to sources within the police, council and women's organisations. They said it also implied the girls would ''do anything for money''.
Herald reporters visited 1 Parkgrove Terrace, Kelvingrove, at 9pm. They asked for a sauna and massage, but were advised to hire rooms at (pounds) 23 an hour - then select any women in the lounge and, for (pounds) 70, do ''anything you want with them''. Sexual acts were described, some involving chains and whips.
Parkgrove lost its licence in February during a council crackdown on saunas. A police report had revealed evidence of prostitution.
The police spokeswoman added that Chief Superintendent John Wilson, divisional commander A division, would hold a news conference today at Stewart Street police office.
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