SWAMPED BY SEX PARLOURS

Explosion of unlicensed massage salons attracted by low city centre rents has created 'new red light area" | Cops accused of turning blind eye to premises offering regular services with sex extras available on request

- MARK McGIVERN

SCOTLAND'S biggest city has been swamped with seedy massage parlours offering sex for sale in an unofficial "red light zone".

Police have been accused of the growth of massage operations in Glasgow city centre, several of which are blatantly offering sexual services.

allowing Owners of legitimate massage shops have reported that the rise of illegal and unlicensed rivals have made it impossible for them to recruit staff, putting their businesses at risk.

And Police Scotland have made it clear they have placed priority on a "victim-centred approach" to prostitution which has meant putting less priority on enforcement.

The Record understands a combination of low city centre rents after Covid and high profit margins for the unlicensed massage parlours has sparked the sex-for-sale explosion with about 30 venues in Glasgow.

Thomas McAslan, who has run a legitimate massage business in Glasgow for 10 years, said: "We now have a city centre, mainly around Central Station, that is turning into an unofficial red light area, on a scale that possibly has never been seen before.

A Daily Record investigation found some operations offer a core service of regular massage, with sexual services available on request.

It is not known if the owners of the businesses are aware of the other services being offered.

We were supplied with a list of more than 30 Thai massage parlours operating without a licence in Glasgow and surrounding areas.

We visited three premises within a minute's walk of Glasgow's Central Station. And we quickly established that all three were open to offering sexual services.