Cyberabad police issue guidelines to spa centres to curb trafficking

Cyberabad Police directed spa centres across the Madhapur area to adhere to operational guidelines, including a ban on sexual activities, mandatory professional qualifications for staff, CCTV surveillance, detailed staff and customer records, and transparent display of licensing and service details.

These measures were discussed during a joint awareness and coordination meeting on Friday, July 4. Organised by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), the Law and Order wing, and the Special Operations Team (SOT), the session emphasised the importance of industry cooperation in preventing human trafficking and safeguarding public safety.

Officials highlighted that spa premises must not double as residences or be linked to residential areas. All employees, including housekeeping staff, must be above 18 years of age, with their personal details maintained in a register. All masseurs and masseuses must possess valid qualifications in physiotherapy, acupressure, or occupational therapy, the police said.

Spa centres must install CCTV cameras with a direct view of entrances, receptions, and common areas, with footage preserved for a minimum of three months. For centres with more than 10 employees, the formation of an Internal Complaints Committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act is mandatory, and its presence must be clearly displayed.

The officials said that such centres must operate only between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. The name, license number, license details, and working hours of the centre must be clearly displayed along with the details of the license holder, manager, employees, working hours, types of massages, services offered, and corresponding fees.

As per court-mandated guidelines, spa centres must keep customer records with verifiable contact details and visit dates, especially in cases involving opposite-sex service requests. These registers should be accessible to police officers of Sub-Inspector rank and above. During working hours, the spa’s main entrance must remain open to ensure transparency.

The meeting was attended by Madhapur DCP Vineeth G., Women & Child Safety Wing DCP Srujana Karnam, Madhapur SOT DCP Shoban Kumar, ADCP Srinivas Reddy, ACPs Satyanarayana and Srinivas, AHTU Inspector Jamesh Babu, and several spa centre representatives. Officials warned that non-compliance with the laid-down norms would invite strict legal action.