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19/11/2008
'Curb Crawlers' Could Face Criminal Charges
Men caught using trafficked sex workers could be handed down a hefty fine and receive a criminal record under new proposals brought forward by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
Ms Smith said she would work to reduce the exploitation of women affected by human trafficking, and would pursue the prosecution of men found using 'vulnerable' prostitutes.
Proposals by the Home Secretary would make it illegal to pay for sex with a prostitute who is controlled by a pimp or trafficker.
Consensual sex work would remain legal, however, campaigners said amendments to the current situation could scare away safe clients, and put prostitutes at a greater risk.
Ms Smith said the aim of the reformation was to cut the demand for prostitution.
"I hope that men will think twice about the fact that probably the majority of women in prostitution - are effectively as good as slaves," she told Sky News.
The Home Secretary warned: "If you are paying for that, you are part of the problem."
Men found guilty of paying exploited sex workers would face fines of up to £1,000 and a criminal record, under the plans.
According to Ms Smith, ignorance of a prostitute’s oppression would not be a valid defence.
Even if a client believed the woman was working independently, he could still face prosecution, if this was later proved otherwise.
Ms Smith suggested around 80,000 women work as prostitutes in the UK, most of which operated against their will, a figure disputed by English Collective of Prostitutes' Niki Adams.
Ms Adams told the BBC: "Most women are not working for pimps. Most women are not trafficked.
"What we do know is that women from all kinds of walks of life, also working as teachers and students, are working in prostitution. And it is consenting sex."
She warned government plans could put lives at risk.
"There is nothing in these proposals to address the poverty debt, homelessness and domestic violence which the government itself acknowledges are factors that force women into prostitution," claimed Ms Adams.
(PR)
Ms Smith said she would work to reduce the exploitation of women affected by human trafficking, and would pursue the prosecution of men found using 'vulnerable' prostitutes.
Proposals by the Home Secretary would make it illegal to pay for sex with a prostitute who is controlled by a pimp or trafficker.
Consensual sex work would remain legal, however, campaigners said amendments to the current situation could scare away safe clients, and put prostitutes at a greater risk.
Ms Smith said the aim of the reformation was to cut the demand for prostitution.
"I hope that men will think twice about the fact that probably the majority of women in prostitution - are effectively as good as slaves," she told Sky News.
The Home Secretary warned: "If you are paying for that, you are part of the problem."
Men found guilty of paying exploited sex workers would face fines of up to £1,000 and a criminal record, under the plans.
According to Ms Smith, ignorance of a prostitute’s oppression would not be a valid defence.
Even if a client believed the woman was working independently, he could still face prosecution, if this was later proved otherwise.
Ms Smith suggested around 80,000 women work as prostitutes in the UK, most of which operated against their will, a figure disputed by English Collective of Prostitutes' Niki Adams.
Ms Adams told the BBC: "Most women are not working for pimps. Most women are not trafficked.
"What we do know is that women from all kinds of walks of life, also working as teachers and students, are working in prostitution. And it is consenting sex."
She warned government plans could put lives at risk.
"There is nothing in these proposals to address the poverty debt, homelessness and domestic violence which the government itself acknowledges are factors that force women into prostitution," claimed Ms Adams.
(PR)
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