21/10/2014

Assembly Outlaws Paying For Sex

Northern Ireland has become the first part of the UK to vote in favour of criminalising paying for sex, following a vote at Stormont.

The measure, known as Clause 6, received a majority vote of 81 to 10 following several hours of debate on Monday.

The clause is part of a private member's Bill on human trafficking and exploitation, proposed by Lord Morrow.

Justice Minister David Ford lead the opposition to the clause, saying that it would be difficult to enforce.

It is understood that it will still be some time before the Bill and the clause will become law but the vote has been described as a "significant step forward".

(MH/CD)

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