Don't punish prostitutes says Tory Advisor

A Conservatives' Human Rights Commission has advised that prostitutes should not be criminalised, but those who buy sex should be prosecuted instead.

 

The commission was appointed by the Conservative party to advise Government on new proposals. It suggested that an overhaul in the law could reduce and potentially put an end to prostitution.

 

Figures from The Office of National Statistics indicate that there are about 58,000 female prostitutes who each have an average of 25 clients per week.

 

Currently it is not a criminal offence to buy or sell sexual services, but other associated practices are illegal such as soliciting, kerb crawling or keeping a brothel.

 

Studies have suggested that 89% of prostitutes want to exit the industry but feel that they can't. The commission said that the new rules could mean that prostitutes might feel more comfortable exiting the industry as the stigma of being involved in illegal trade would be eliminated. It advised that schemes should be introduced to support and encourage these women quit their trade. 

 

These support systems would also improve the number of women who report violent assaults against them, trafficking and exploitation as they would not be at risk of prosecution. 

 

A Korean study in 2009 found prostitution strongly related to post-traumatic stress as many of the women engaged in the sex trade come from troubled backgrounds. 

 

"By enabling the purchase of sexual consent we allow a market to be driven which causes harm to those directly affected, and we do damage to the broader social conception of personal freedom," the Conservatives' Human Rights Commission said.

 

Similar legislation has been implemented in countries such as Ireland, France, Norway and Sweden. Evidence showed that this model led to fewer prostitutes, reduced trafficking and an increase in victims reporting assaults against them.

 

E&K Solicitors

Rusholme