In Lavender Street is a row of shophouses that, up to early last year, used to house more than 10 massage parlours.
But, just as suddenly as they were set up, more than half closed down and were replaced by a convenience store, a gym and a hostel. Residents and shop owners in the area noted the closures began early last year, as new and stricter rules governing such establishments came into force. Since March last year, massage establishments in most areas have had to close by Figures provided by the Singapore Police Force show that the number of illegal massage establishments detected fell by 36 per cent to last year, from the figure in About 45 per cent of the illegal massage parlours detected last year were engaged in vice-related activities, the police found.
Licensed massage parlours fell by 8 per cent to 1, last year, from the figure in In Lavender Street, this drop is evident on a stretch of road a few hundred metres away from the Bendemeer Light housing blocks that used to be dominated by six massage establishments.
The change in the landscape has been welcomed by neighbouring shops and residents. Bendemeer resident Tang Ailing, 48, said workers would try to promote massages to men walking by but ignore female passers-by.
Legal massage establishment operators also welcomed the changes to the industry, even as they scrambled to adjust to the new rules, such as the shorter operating hours. They also had to cope with a fall in business as a result of stepped-up enforcement operations, massage parlour operators told ST.
