Brothel which opened by council's children's services building shut down after six months of 'shifty guys' loitering nearby

 
The giant graffiti reading brothel apparently painted to shame the owners
Mark Blunden @_MarkBlunden4 September 2014
WEST END FINAL

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A brothel operating near a London council’s children’s services building has been closed down, police said today.

Residents said men were seen loitering around the cul-de-sac waiting to go through a gate and into flats from where sex workers operated.

But the clients often called on local homes by mistake, according to residents, and one 83-year-old woman reported a man knocking on her front door and requesting a massage.

The word “brothel” was sprayed on the wall in a bid to apparently shame its operators.

The property is near the building housing Haringey council’s adult, culture and community services and children and young people’s services departments.

After the Standard’s report on Tuesday, police said a man had been arrested and the property “returned to the management of the landlord”.

Down the road: Haringey's Adult, Culture Services and Children and Young People's Service HQ

Residents welcomed the raid but questioned why the police had to be “embarrassed” into action following months of complaints to police and the council.

The gated entrance on Cumberland Road, which does not appear on the electoral roll, led into a courtyard and up to flats.

Residents said “shifty-looking, nervous guys” were loitering on the road for the past six months.

Resident Tony McLoughlin, 49, a father-of-two who works in sales and marketing, said: “We’re happy it’s been closed and were not going to get hassled any more.

“But we’re surprised why action wasn’t taken when the police and our ward councillor were informed.

“Why did they have to be embarrassed into it?”

Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of allowing a premises to be used for prostitution.

He was bailed to return to an east London police station next month.

A Met police spokeswoman said: “The premises in Cumberland Road, Haringey has now been returned to the management of the landlord.”

Officers previously visited the property and checked on the welfare of two women inside.

Police traced the landlord, who was “informed that the property was being used as a brothel”, which broke the Sexual Offences Act 1967.

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