Law on trafficked prostitutes in force 'within months'

Why the headline, from the reported article on Yahoo says trafficked I have no idea.  Its to do with any women (sex worker) coerced into prostitution.

The laws on sex work in England and Wales are due to change.  Having gone through parliament, the lords and given the Royal Seal of approval, there is still a wait while the logistics of implementing the laws are thought through.  Will there be enough time before the general election.

The following article surfaced, which suggests that some of the laws will not be implemented before the election.  Alas the media only consider the prosecution of the client in these articles.  Most of us who know the sex industry consider the closure of brothels, and the greater remuneration to the police force  when brothels are prosecuted, as a greater risk to the safety of prostitutes.  The police get 50% of all cash found, and 25% of other assets. A very sure incentive to put women at risk.  To think this policy is endorsed by those parliamentarians who have women’s safety at heart is laughable.

Law on trafficked prostitutes in force 'within months'

A new law that criminalises people who pay for sex with trafficked prostitutes may be brought into force "within months".

Home Office minister Alan Campbell told the joint committee on human rights that the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are "working closely" to ensure the law "is usable and will get convictions".

He said there may be a high-profile advertising campaign to "send out the message" about this new strict liability offence, which formed part of the Policing and Crime Act 2009.

I hope so too, because there is so much ignorance of the laws on prostitution.  In fact this could increase the demand, even on Punter Net you get people asking questions that lead me to believe they think prostitution and the purchase of sex is already illegal and has always been illegal.  This publicity will enlighten them. 

Campbell admitted there had been a "prolonged" debate on the new law, but parliament had agreed it is "the right thing to do".

He said it would make clear "what responsibility falls on the men fuelling the trade" in trafficked prostitutes.

"We need to waken up men to the horrors they are part of," he added.

Andrew Dismore (Lab, Hendon) chairman of the joint committee, expressed concern that the new law would have a chilling effect on men reporting concerns about trafficked prostitutes to authorities.

Evan Harris (Lib Dem, Oxford West and Abingdon) said the new law could place women in even more exploitative situations.

He criticised the lack of an evidence base showing the law will have the desired effect.

Campbell said evidence was presented to parliamentarians and the new law was widely debated.

A very select selection of evidence was presented.  The majority view of evidence that supported decriminalisation was purposefully left out by the Government. Even research commissioned by the Government which went against the Governments views appeared after the law had gone through the third reading.  No wonder the country is so fed up with the manipulation of statistics by Government, and the total lack of honesty in discussing the opinions of the experts in the field.

Fiona Mactaggart (Lab, Slough) asked if the impending election could impact on the roll-out of an advertising campaign about the new law.

Campbell said he is "not enormously confident" that the law will come into force before the election, which must be held by June.

"We are heading towards purdah," he said, a reference to the consciously non-partisan stance taken by civil servants in the run up to an election.

This is an interesting comment, Campbell appears to believe the law may not be implemented by the time the election is held.  What happens in this case, does the next parliament then implement the law, or can it just be forgotten.

The minister said chief police officers and the CPS will be consulted about how best to target a campaign, such as placing adverts in men's toilets at service stations.

Umm, don’t think I ever visit a men’s toilet in a service station before I go on a punt.  Maybe the toilet in my hotel. 

The Earl of Onslow (Con) asked if the Home Office has considered setting up an anonymous hotline where people can report suspected trafficked prostitutes.

Campbell said it had been discussed, but it may be more appropriate to ensure existing hotlines are properly advertised rather than replicate them.

He said people could use Crimestoppers hotline to report suspected trafficked persons.

Sensible suggestion, but please remember that the arse of the new law says promising to pay for sex, and then realising the women you are about to have sex with is coerced, and you don’t have sex with her is still a crime.  So make sure the call is really anonymous, and from an unregistered phone and sim card.

Lord Dubs (Lab) asked how many trafficked people who are discovered by the authorities are changed with asylum offences.

Campbell said that victims should not be charged and children who have been trafficked are put in the care of a local authority.

He said the approach to trafficking is "victim-centred" but there are more complex cases where people claim to be trafficked and were not.

Others do not realise they have rights as a trafficked person or develop 'Stockholm syndrome' and come to relate to their captors.

Many victims don’t realise their rights, and many victims can also be here illegally and with the inevitable fear of the authorities will not admit to be coerced.  So many victims are just bundled up and sent back to their homes on immigration charges.

Dismore asked about the Olympics and prostitution.

Campbell said there is "an assumption" that there will be an increase in prostitution around a major sporting event such as the Olympics, but many of those women may come from surrounding areas and are not necessarily trafficked.

He said the Met police are aware of the issue and focused on it.

That is a very honest statement from Campbell.  I for one have not quite figured out the financial benefits of setting up brothels, buying the women, advertising the women all for an event that lasts two weeks.  Even the world cup that goes on for what seems ever attracted very little extra prostitution  and  almost no trafficking in Germany.