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Toronto could one day have special prosecutors to crack the whip on naughty strip clubs, massage parlours and holistic centres. Councillor Peter Milczyn wants city bureaucrats to look at the benefits of hiring special prosecutors to handle prosecutions against adult entertainment, body rub parlours, holistic centres and other problem establishments caught flaunting Toronto’s bylaws. “We have problem establishments,” Milczyn said Tuesday. “In my particular case, the issues I’m dealing with (in my ward) primarily are holistics and body rub parlours. There are a lot of issues with effective prosecution of them. "Part of it is the quality of evidence that is gathered and part of it is frustration with how the prosecutions deal with it.” Milczyn wants city council to order staff to study the idea of retaining outside special prosecutors and report back to the licensing and standards committee on June 28. "Other jurisdictions had trouble shutting down problem massage parlours, problem holistics and they went to outside lawyers that were more aggressive, in some cases they were top defence lawyers who knew exactly how to undermine the other side's case," he said. Milczyn said he's open to staff keeping the prosecutions in house if they can come up with a better plan. In his motion, Milczyn noted prosecution of offences at trouble establishments was "lax" and often "is not given greater priority over less serious offences. " "The effective prosecution of establishments that may be fronts for prostitution, human trafficking, drugs, after hours drinking, and other serious crimes is important due to the effect on the neighbourhood quality of life that they impact," the motion states. "City prosecutors are seen to be reluctant to engage with residents and the community on providing community victim impact statements to the courts, proceeding with trials, and promote plea bargains and dismissals that make it easier for problem establishments to avoid more severe penalties including closure orders."

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