West Midlands Police have shut down a high street business in Birmingham after discovering a suspected brothel operating at the premises. The Heloca acupuncture clinic building on High Street in Harborne was closed for three months by Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday, August 13, following a police application under anti-social behaviour legislation.
Officers found potentially vulnerable women at the site, one of whom required safeguarding, the court was told. The force has launched an investigation into the suspected illegal provision of sexual services and possible human trafficking.
Concerns raised in April
Eve Patterson, representing the police, said concerns were first raised by city council officers in April this year. A notice was issued to David Si Chen, believed to be the landlord of the building. At that time, it was noted that the business was advertising massages without a licence.
Ms Patterson told the court: "It was brought to Mr Chen's attention there was a concern sexual services were being offered from the premises." She added that the force was investigating the suspected operation of a brothel, stating: "The more serious and wider implication is that it's a brothel involving the trafficking of more vulnerable women. That is more serious and wider criminality."
Police reject landlord's claims
Police executed a warrant on July 3 and discovered potentially vulnerable females present. Ms Patterson said the force rejected Mr Si Chen's claim that he sublet the upstairs rooms to other individuals and had no influence over what they did with them. She stated there was no distinction between the upstairs rooms, where red lights, baby oil and tissues were found, and the downstairs rooms said to be in a similar state.
Mr Si Chen objected to the full closure of the building and requested that the Heloca acupuncture clinic on the ground floor remain open. Robin Younghusband, representing the premises, acknowledged the findings, saying: "The fact is those women were found where they were found, doing what they were doing. That indicates a brothel. I make no bones about that."
Closure order granted
However, Mr Younghusband argued that the full closure was not necessary and disproportionate, suggesting the upper floors could be closed while allowing Heloca to continue running. He also told the court that Heloca was in the process of applying for a licence to carry out massages.
Despite these objections, magistrates agreed to the police application for a full closure of the building. The criminal investigation remains ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this stage.
