I found this article on Herald Scotland's website from Saturday 8th June 2013... I was considering touring in Scotland this year (put it off due to all the trouble in Glasgow) but I might think twice after reading this:

MASSAGE parlours in Scotland's capital have been raided in the first clampdown on so-called "accepted" prostitution in Scotland since the new single police force was established.

Brothels were targeted by 150 Police Scotland East Division officers, who accompanied social workers to help potential victims. They swooped in an unprecedented push after concerns about lax licensing laws in Edinburgh.

Customers and employees were taken onto the street and questioned at seven saunas and 11 associated addresses.

Police said 30 women of various nationalities were interviewed in relation to prostitution and officers are pursuing inquiries relating to several serious sexual offences.

In a statement, police said: "Three people in locations in Edinburgh and Fife have been charged with drugs offences, including supply and cultivation, and it is estimated that assets worth in excess of ?500,000 have been seized.

"Large amounts of cash, electronic equipment and documentation relating to business matters have been recovered."

Marilyne MacLaren, an Edinburgh-based former councillor who has campaigned on women's issues, said help was needed for vulnerable women caught up in the raids.

Mrs MacLaren said: "This is an issue that has not yet been addressed but is very close to my heart.

"The foremost issue is taking care of the vulnerable people we are talking about. There is a serious concern about health and safety and drugs issues that have to be addressed, but alienating these vulnerable women will not help."

Since the country's eight forces came under the single Police Scotland umbrella, regional variations in policy have surfaced, creating legal problems.

Edinburgh's apparent sanctioning of prostitution had created a climate whereby city officials had to defend perceived leniency on the practice.

The city council said it would act under licensing legislation if criminality were found after the investigations following the raids.

A massage parlour in the city's Dundas Street and one in the Roseburn area were among those targeted by police in the operation.

Women and men were moved outdoors at the New Town Sauna as forensic experts carried out an investigation that encompassed health and safety issues.

Police Scotland said it had acted on information provided.

The saunas have their advocates as they are said to provide some protection for women. One senior council source said there was a view that the relative safety provided inside saunas was significant.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "We are carrying out a number of intelligence-led searches and inspections at licensed premises and associated addresses across Edinburgh.

"The activity, which is being carried out in partnership with a number of agencies, is part of the force's commitment to keeping people safe.

"Any offences detected during these searches will be appropriately dealt with."

A spokesman from Edinburgh City Council said: "As is always the case, we will take appropriate action when we receive reports from the police about any criminality on licensed premises."

Joanna Mowat, a Conservative councillor in Edinburgh, has spoken of her concern at the council's approach.

She said: "If we are going to tolerate the licensing of brothels, which is essentially what we do, perhaps we should actually license brothels, and part of the regulation would be to ensure that the girls ? or men ? are not trafficked, that they are tested, and that they have access to medical support."

Another threat to Edinburgh's tolerance towards saunas could come from Labour Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant, who has proposed a bill at Holyrood to criminalise the purchase of sex.

It's terrifying. Interviews on the street?

I work in a flat with a few other girls, and seeing this has really made me reluctant to work over the next few weeks.

Do you know as yet if any flats have been targeted?

FT, ALL apartments that have more than one girl working in them are always a target.  It's just not worth it in Scotland. 

Girls that offer duos are also a target.  Not all profiles on AW are real people.  Some are undercover police.   You have to have your wits about you in Scotland if you are taking any chances.

They don't always follow through with charges once they have raided somewhere but you can have it hanging over your head for up to a year which is not nice.  Full REAL names and addresses can be exposed in local papers too. 

FT, ALL apartments that have more than one girl working in them are always a target.  It's just not worth it in Scotland. 

Girls that offer duos are also a target.  Not all profiles on AW are real people.  Some are undercover police.   You have to have your wits about you in Scotland if you are taking any chances.

They don't always follow through with charges once they have raided somewhere but you can have it hanging over your head for up to a year which is not nice.  Full REAL names and addresses can be exposed in local papers too. 

I'm thinking a break would be a good idea. Or perhaps switching back to outcalls only :S

The workers have not been charged with anything, because working in a brothel isn't breaking the law.

The MO (in other places in Scotland than Edinburgh) is to try and pin a brothel management charge on somebody and then get everybody else for 'assisting in' if they feel like it but it's a very rare event they make it stick and there is no reason yet to suspect that private flats in Edinburgh will be targeted, irrespective of what happens elsewhere.

Obviously there's no reason to expect they won't, but these raids were specific to the commercial sauna operations, and whilst it's always good to be aware, there's no reason for panicking just yet. If your name is the one on the lease or there's blatantly lots of people working there I would maybe think twice about it, but that's it.

Heard through the grape vine - so not conclusive- one flat that had several girls working in it has been been ordered to close, recently in Edinburgh.

People working in a brothel cannot be prosecuted unless they run or assist in the running of the brothel.

this site is so educative...im always informed anytime i log on here...i considered touring scotland later on, in the year..this is article is such
an eye opening .