Product Control Centre to intervene in sex trade at Helsinki restaurants

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The Product Control Centre for Social Welfare and Health (STTV) is conducting a probe into suspected prostitution at Helsinki restaurants. Three restaurants have been asked to give an account of the alleged activities on their premises.
      The STTV has not released the names of the restaurants, but according to Helsingin Sanomat, they are Alcatraz, Mermaid, and Mikado in downtown Helsinki.
      The STTV carried out spot checks at the establishments during the summer, along with police and other authorities. Also Helsingin Sanomat reported in July that a large number of prostitutes were openly looking for clients, at least in Alcatraz and Mikado. The STTV says that the probe may involve even other restaurants and bars.
      If a restaurant’s personnel does not prevent prostitutes from offering sexual services to customers in its premises, the STTV can issue the restaurant with warnings and restrict, suspend, or revoke its alcohol licenses.
      Moreover, the new Public Order Act that took effect last October bans buying and selling sexual services in public places.
      A precedent was set by the Motel Syvälampi case in Suomusjärvi, whereby the Supreme Administrative Court ruled at the beginning of the current year that allowing sex trade to flourish openly can lead to the cancellation of a restaurant’s licence to serve alcoholic beverages.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Allowing sex trade could lead to loss of restaurant liquor licence (5.2.2004)

Links:
  Public Order Act

Helsingin Sanomat