Shanghai police will go undercover to stop sex trade
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Shanghai?police plan to continue their crackdown on prostitution by introducing undercover inspections at massage parlors and karaoke venues.
Police said they are now planning to train dedicated teams of police officers and assistants who would work undercover on collecting clues to crack down on the sex trade.
The system will allow quicker information sharing among police departments to raise efficiency. When undercover officers detect sex deals, the venues will be shut down, police said.
Police said working undercover along with carrying out spot checks would be more effective than occasional raids in stamping out prostitution.
About 7,500 suspects had been caught and about 2,000 venues had been fined or closed in the first seven months of this year due to a tougher stance on prostitution, gambling and drug abuse, police said.
Officers also encouraged residents to keep providing tips about suspect venues. Residents provided tips about 789 such venues in the first seven months of this year.
About 200,000 employees of massage parlors and karaoke venues have registered their real identity with the police since the system was launched in 2005, officers said. The system allows police to better monitor these venues and prevent illegal dealings.
More than 60 people were caught and punished as police raided 14 foot massage parlors on Qingzhen Road in Xuhui District last Wednesday and Thursday, officers said.
Secret rooms for sex services were found during the raid.
Police said they will cooperate more closely with other bureaus in future to improve supervision of these venues.
