PRIVATE investigators will no longer need to have sex with prostitutes to gather evidence against illegal brothels.

Under new laws before Parliament, the State Government has made it easier for local councils to prove an illegal brothel is operating in their area.

Previously, in a bizarre and controversial situation, private investigators had to pay and receive sexual services from prostitutes so local councils could prove to a court the existence of an illegal brothel.

The changes mean local councils and their private investigators will only have to prove that sexual services were offered, not actually provided.

Instead of entering a suspected illegal brothel, council officers or hired investigators could sit across the road from a premises and note the number and gender of visitors.