Survey: How do you view the police station writing letters to the families of salon women for anti-prostitution efforts?
Oriental Daily News, September 6: In order to completely eliminate prostitution activities in irregular leisure stores at the source, the Xiangfu Police Station in Gongshu District, Hangzhou, came up with the idea of writing letters to the families of "salon women" suspected of prostitution.
"You relatives are currently working at a certain beauty and leisure store. This store belongs to an irregular beauty and hairdressing leisure store. As family members, you have the right to understand your relatives' work environment. The public security organs also hope to get your cooperation, persuading your relatives not to go astray." In order to completely eliminate prostitution activities in irregular leisure stores at the source, the Xiangfu Police Station in Gongshu District, Hangzhou, came up with the idea of writing letters to the families of "salon women" suspected of prostitution.
Xiangfu Police Station officer Zhang Qian told the Morning Post yesterday that based on experience, 99% of irregular leisure stores were involved in prostitution. However, "if the police did not catch them red-handed, there was no evidence, and the officers could only release them, eventually falling into a vicious cycle of 'catching and releasing, releasing and catching again.'" Therefore, the officers decided to write letters to the families of "salon women," informing them of their relatives' work environment, which would help combat prostitution and mobilize the families to save these women. In the past two months, the Xiangfu Police Station has sent out more than 60 such letters.
The wording is tactful and includes photos
Regarding what constitutes an irregular beauty and hairdressing leisure store, Zhang Qian said, "Generally, they rent only one storefront, with no beauty or hairdressing tools inside, but many beds instead, and some women dressed provocatively. At night, the store lights up pink lights, you know, it's like those 'red-light districts.'"
After inspecting these places, the police will bring back all individuals suspected of prostitution and solicitation to the police station for investigation. Those confirmed will be punished according to the "Public Security Administration Punishment Law"; if not caught red-handed, only suspected of prostitution, the police will investigate and question them, then query their home addresses through the internal police network and write letters to their families.
Xiangfu Police Station Chief Wang Peijun stated that the letters are formatted, avoiding terms like "Miss" in the wording, and the letter begins with "Dear Family Member." The main text mentions:
"Your relatives are currently working at a certain beauty and leisure store. This store belongs to an irregular beauty and hairdressing leisure store. As family members, you have the right to understand your relatives' work environment. The public security organs also hope to get your cooperation, persuading your relatives not to go astray."
It also points out in a reminder manner, "The harm caused by engaging in these fringe industries to oneself and the family is significant: one, it's easy to contract diseases... easily leading to infections of syphilis, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Two, it's easy to be victimized. Irregular beauty and hairdressing leisure stores are generally located in relatively hidden places, with complex personnel coming and going, and only a few females inside, making them extremely vulnerable to physical and property harm."
The end of the letter appeals, "Please... educate and remind them, let them take the law as a warning, immediately stay away from this fringe industry of beauty and leisure, and stay away from illegal activities. If your relatives are not voluntarily engaged in this industry, they can promptly seek help from 110 or relevant departments."
Zhang Qian said that the wording in the letter is very tactful, "not too explicit, so as not to embarrass her parents," and a photo is attached with the letter.
Generally, the consent of the parties concerned is not sought
Regarding whether the consent of the parties concerned is sought before sending the letters, Zhang Qian said, "Generally not, otherwise it wouldn't be possible to send them," and from the feedback on these letters, most of these people have lost contact with their families, some have even run away from home. Wang Peijun also indicated that if the parties were informed, "it would be troublesome, they would change locations."
Why write letters only to the families of "salon women" suspected of prostitution and not to the families of "clients" suspected of solicitation? Zhang Qian said that the police would bring both those suspected of prostitution and solicitation to the police station for investigation. "Clients are consumers, whose behaviors are often temporary and accidental, while prostitutes are long-term providers (of sexual services). Eliminating the providers naturally eliminates the consumers." Moreover, writing letters also aims to save these women.
It is reported that after sending out more than 60 letters, 80% received responses, some hoping to get in touch with their daughters; others claimed poverty and hoped the police would return their daughters. "We can only play a leading role, informing the families about their relatives' information. If the families come looking for them, we will assist."
Effect needs assessment, method needs improvement
Compared to some places where anti-prostitution efforts either involve "storm-like" crackdowns or expose suspects to humiliate them, the Xiangfu Police Station's combination of anti-prostitution and rescue measures is considered quite "humanitarian" by observers, but it is hoped that its effectiveness can be further assessed, and improvements made in specific operational methods.
Professor Yang Jianhua of the Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences believes that this year, various places have been intensifying anti-prostitution efforts, but there is often a feeling of being unable to keep up, as many cases fall between legal and illegal boundaries, such as these irregular beauty and hairdressing leisure stores. Under such circumstances, the approach taken by the Xiangfu Police Station is also a trial and exploration: not solely relying on the police, but also hoping to mobilize families for assistance. Next, the police should assess the effectiveness of this approach.
Lawyer Yin Fuqiang of Beijing Longan Law Firm believes that the police station's intention is good, aiming to use family persuasion to stop these "fringe individuals" from continuing down the wrong path, and even obtain clues about those who are forced into it. However, there are also inappropriate aspects of this method that need further improvement, such as sending letters to their families without confirming whether these individuals have committed illegal acts, specifically "prostitution." Based on the content of the letter, it can easily lead to family misunderstandings, assuming involvement in "prostitution," potentially infringing on others' reputation rights.
Lawyer Yin Fuqiang said that when writing letters to the families of parties concerning their work situations, it would be best to seek the opinions of the parties and obtain their consent.