Proposal for outright ban on prostitution in Scotland debated by MSPs

Fast-track: The proposal aims to reduce the demand for prostitution.STV

Plans to introduce an outright ban on prostitution should be fast-tracked, an MSP has argued.

Labour politician Rhoda Grant wants a new law which would make it an offence to pay for sex, building on existing street prostitution legislation.

Her Purchase of Sex Bill will go in front of Holyrood's Justice Committee with the aim of pushing ahead with the plans and bypassing the need for consultation.

There is already legislation in place that are used against those involved in street prostitution, with laws against loitering, soliciting and kerb crawling.

Ms Grant says her proposal would criminalise those who use prostitutes.

Arguing her case, she said: "My proposal will make the purchase of sex illegal in Scotland, with the aim of reducing the demand for prostitution.

"In addition, by strengthening the existing legislative framework against purchasers, Scotland should become an unattractive market for prostitution and therefore other associated serious criminal activities, such as people-trafficking for sexual exploitation, would be disrupted."

A previous attempt for a total ban was introduced by former MSP Trish Godman but it was not adopted as part of the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill.

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There are 7 comments

This is one of the silliest proposals I've heard so far, I understand the idea is to protect sex workers but I believe that this will not benefit them or their customers in any way.

We should take a leaf out of the German book or even dare I say it, the Nevada approach. Where it is legalised, restricted to specific areas, taxable (hence traceable and a source of revenue) and with medical checks built in (which would also show up drug abuse). There would be money raised for counselling and support for those willing to leave "the game", Also by making it a recognised industry it would in some ways alleviate the stigma of the participants (from both sides). Operating outside the designated areas could still be a criminal offence for both the prostitute and the customer to help enforce the rules.

Implementing a structure like this would go a long way to making the practice safer for all concerned and coupled with a register of workers with cards for participating in the industry (like those used in construction and security, no card and that is an offence for both parties), would cut down on STDs and the criminal activity associated with prostitution.

Make something legal and the criminal element is subverted, people trafficking (still an offence under this idea as is under age prostitution) would be cut down and the spread of anti-social behaviour be contained. Rape and physical abuse would I am sure fall in numbers.

This would show that Scotland is a forward thinking country not tied to the shackles of some misguided draconian law structure that forces its population to take part in "under the counter" activities. We protect patrons of restaurants with health inspectors so why not sexual health inspectors as well to cut down on diseases associated with prostitution and drug abuse (possibly the real underlying cause of people selling their bodies).

I call upon all our MSPs to consider this carefully, we have the chance to do something that creates a safer and healthier society instead of criminalising people seeking to demonstrate their democratic rights by driving the situation even further underground.

We are never going to stop prostitution so let us embrace it, make it legal, safer and socially acceptable like any other trade or employment with all the checks and balances that involves.

Madhamish 19/06/2012 Report this place

crazy what is going to happen it will become a more behind closed doors and harder for the police and other help groups find these men and women who are in this trade and in the end will cost the ax payer more money

icicle 19/06/2012 Report this place

Let,s take a leaf out of the European set up. This life long profession if correctly monitored and controlled would make the government money rather than costing them and the tax payers more money.
Look at our friends in Holland. It is open and properly controlled and revenue is generated for the governments purse.
Let,s come out of the middle ages. If freely available then there would be no hidding behind doors.
This proposal if implemented would only starve certain individuals of this service and they would seek elsewhere to satisfy their needs.

Placeebo 19/06/2012 Report this place

The mere fact that someone could even imagine that this set of words codified into law will evaporate prostitution both impugns their sanity and raises the strong suspicion of infiltration by organised crime, the sole beneficiary of such stupidity.

Prostitution should be regulated and taxed, just like any other for-profit business enterprise.

Derek Williams 19/06/2012 Report this place

It seems the majority (if not all) of the respondents to this feed are in agreement with my earlier proposition. It shows that thinking people are not going to be led by the nose, which I congratulate them for. Ladies and gentlemen let us make our opinions heard!

Madhamish 19/06/2012 Report this place

So the despot Rhoda Grant seeks to by-pass the requirement for consultation. Has she forgotten that Scotland is a democracy? I think it was when I awoke this morning. What a stupid woman! The reality is that men will purchase sex and women will gladly accept payment if not demand it. Surely she would not be speaking from experience otherwise how could she be in the position to discuss it other than from the position of ignorance or could she be a member of the Wee free? Advance Scotland backwards

Duparc 19/06/2012 Report this place

This reminds me very much of the sexual purity penal codes of 1600’s New England or 1930’s national socialist Germany. Its creepy.

How can it be that if a man and a woman over 18 enter into a sexual contract by saying ‘Yes’ in the bedroom be completely legal although if one of them decides to make a financial profit by asking the other to pay for it then it is a ‘perversely wild crime against woman everywhere that leads to trafficking, drugs and the end of the world as we know it’ ?

This is also a very sexist heterosexually driven bill. It presumes that woman like me do not make conscious free decisions to sell there services. It assumes that all sex workers are female, however upon the reality of the fact most demand and money is to be found in males hiring other males for sexual services. Will the Scottish government say anything about that ? Not only will this take away the livelihoods of sex workers but demonise us, force us to work in secrecy and put us in real danger.

I hope this 18th century childish bill is thrown out and the MSP with it !

Sara 28/07/2012 Report this place

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Proposal for outright ban on prostitution in Scotland debated by MSPs

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Scotland

Proposal for outright ban on prostitution in Scotland debated by MSPs

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