News SEX WORKERS 27 Nov 2009

 
New Laws Tackling Coercing and Deceit...


12 November 2009 a new law comes into force; The Policing and Crime Act 2009, has created the new offence of having sex with a prostitute who has been coerced or deceived. The new law is intended to tackle the growing problem of ‘sex trafficking’ as well as domestic violence situations where an abusive partner forces a person to become a prostitute or face physical punishment. The offence applies to any person working in the UK, regardless of their immigration status.
 
The average age for a woman entering prostitution is less than 16, and often involves girls who are from challenging backgrounds and who are already psychologically damaged. Media programmes depicting characters like Belle Du Jour, as well as the apparant social acceptance of lap-dancing clubs, has led to a glamorisation of the sex industry. The new laws aim to target the reality of prostitution in the UK which typically involves young girls who are unprotected, alone and highly vulnerable.
 
Other countries, like Sweden, that have brought in similar laws have seen a huge decrease in trafficking. Germany, on the other hand, which has legalised much of its prostitution, has seen the opposite effect...

 

27 November 2009