In documents released ahead of an upcoming licensing hearing, it’s revealed that Met Police and immigration officers attended Still Water Spa at 50c Homesdale Road in Bromley on June 17 after receiving an anonymous report about a woman in distress running out of the Chinese massage business, claiming she had been trafficked.
According to police testimony, three officers visited the spa and found a woman at its reception, a second woman unclothed in a side room and a male customer hiding in a wardrobe.
The second woman “forcibly closed and then locked the door on police to try and prevent them gaining entry”.
The receptionist gave numerous fake names until her real name and address was ascertained via a screenshot of an NHS letter on her phone.
She denied any involvement in the spa or its services, and said she was waiting there for her friend, the spa’s owner, who was not on the premises at the time.
The masseuse did not say anything to police about providing sexual services and refused to give identification at first. Both women were arrested for immigration offences.
A search of the receptionist’s Woolwich property resulted in the discovery of £4,000 in cash. Immigration is currently investigating the residence as it was found to be housing “multiple inhabitants of Chinese origin”.
The male customer, an international student, was questioned by police and revealed he had booked a sports massage at Still Water Spa and was offered a “happy ending” for an extra £20. He was warned for solicitation.
Details of the June 17 incident are included in reports for an upcoming meeting of Bromley Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee. The committee, which will meet on October 29, has been recommended to refuse a request to renew Still Water Spa’s special treatment licence following the police visit and arrests.
Special treatment licences are intended to regulate premises offering services such as massage, tattooing, acupuncture and other treatments.
Still Water Spa will not be able to operate as a massage parlour if its licence isn’t renewed.
Both The Met and Bromley’s own health and safety department have objected to the licence renewal.
The owner and licence holder at Still Water Spa is Feihong Liu who has apologised for the June 17 incident. In her submission to the committee, she said: “I fully acknowledge the seriousness of the matter and accept complete responsibility for the actions that occurred under my name and business.
“Please know that I deeply regret this unfortunate oversight and the consequences that have followed. It was never my intention to act in any way that would breach legal or professional standards, or to compromise the trust placed in us.”
Ms Liu said she is committed to “upholding the highest standards moving forward” and will not allow any illegal workers to operate in her business.
Ms Liu also said that all her current employees have the right to work in the UK, and she had made a mistake previously by only registering herself as a licensed therapist and not the rest of her staff.
