PROSTITUTE BILL GOES OFF AT HALF COCK

19-11-2008

Has there been more ill-considered piece of legislation than the latest government plan to clamp down on prostitution? It will remain legal for men to buy sex – but only if the woman isn’t controlled by a pimp, or hasn’t been trafficked.

So how is the desperate john supposed to find out? The answer of course, is that he can’t. Instead, the idea is to put the fear of God (or at least local newspaper exposure) in him.

Short of a prostitute signing a disclaimer before the deed is done, the client will have to risk breaking the law to satisfy his lust.

Has a similar threat stopped kerb-crawling? Nah. For some men, it only adds to the thrill.

If the government really wanted to be bold it could have followed Sweden’s example of banning the purchase of sex altogether – but it fears that we are too pragmatic a nation to accept that.

Alternatively, it could have gone down the route of full-scale legalisation – but it simply doesn’t have the stomach to license and police the oldest profession.

Result? A mish mash of a law that will assuage a few consciences in the Cabinet, but do nothing to help the women who are truly victims of violent pimps and addiction.

They will simply keep schtumm, and protect the identities of those who look after them for fear of a good beating; meanwhile women who adopt prostitution as an economic lifestyle choice will have to live with even worse uncertainty about their status than ever before.

This is a weasel Bill, lacking in foresight and moral courage; a new law to restrict the sex trade that has truly gone off at half cock.

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