Police accused of terrorising women by using battering rams, sledgehammers during brothel raid

Some netizens have accused police officers of terrorising women by using battering rams, saws and sledge hammers during brothel raids.

An alleged eyewitness, Facebook user Vanessa Ho, posted videos of the police cracking down on an unlicensed brothel online and wrote:

“Police raid of an unlicensed brothel. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said they use battering rams and sledgehammers. In fact, I saw that they also used a circular saw and wore balaclavas. As Sherry puts it, “they think of their safety first but not the workers”. The whole area smelled like burning metal for a moment. A huge crowd gathered, adding to the spectacle. And to make matters worse, the media was invited and I got to witness first hand how they make the women pose with their faces to the walls in order to shame them.

“This is what your taxpayers money are put to: groups of armed men terrorizing women.”

https://www.facebook.com/ho.xihuei/posts/10101690069140304?pnref=story

An activist supporting sex worker rights shared the post online and wrote:

“Now dear friends and members of public, look at this and tell me is it right to put the safety of these women at risk for the sake of upholding law? Yes, its their duty. But to such horrifying extend?

“These sex workers are not hooligans that have weapons in their possession or drugs or something serious.

“They choose this as their livelihood. You treated them like humans with no feelings and respect. Now are you happy that fellow human beings are treated like this? I hope tonight you anti sex work can sleep well while these women were ashamed by the media and their rights taken away from them simply because the officers forced them to signed the paper whereas no concrete evidence of soliciting was presented.”

Netizens were divided, with some criticising such action as brutality and others defending the police for doing their duty.