Conflicting numbers of Hamburg prostitutes

• Tweet

HAMBURG, Germany, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Politicians in Hamburg, Germany, said there are 29 registered prostitutes working in the city, though Hamburg police say the number is closer to 2,400.

The Hamburg city parliament released data that there are 29 prostitutes in the city in response to a request by Christian Democrat politician Ralf Niedmers, Bild reported. Niedmers said he wanted the information to try to establish whether a sex worker scene was increasing in the Wandsbek neighborhood.

The report from the parliament said there are "numerous other business registrations under euphemisms for prostitution," but dancers, escorts and masseuses are not officially recognized as sex workers, the German version of The Local reported Thursday.

Prostitution is legal in Germany and sex workers must pay income tax on their earnings. Tax authorities reported there are 153 prostitutes in the city.

Police said the number is closer to 2,400 prostitutes, with about 500 and 700 working in the nightlife districts of St. Pauli and St. Georg, The Local.de reported.