This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6242879.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
New prostitution bill criticised Prostitution law action pledged
(2 days later)
Plans by ministers to tackle kerb crawling have been sharply criticised by a committee of MSPs. New Scottish legislation to crack down on kerb crawling is to be toughened up, ministers have said.
If passed, the Prostitution Bill would for the first time criminalise men who buy sex from prostitutes. The assurance was given after the Scottish Executive's prostitution bill was criticised by a committee of MSPs.
But the Local Government and Transport Committee said the draft legislation would be pointless because people in private cars would escape prosecution. If passed, the legislation would for the first time criminalise men who buy sex from prostitutes.
It also suggested prostitutes' clients face tougher sentencing than the women due to their economic circumstances. MSPs said the bill would be pointless as people in private cars would escape prosecution. Minister George Lyon said the criticism was being taken on board.
The report by the Local Government and Transport Committee also suggested that prostitutes' clients should face tougher sentencing than the women due to their economic circumstances.
The bill, as it currently stands, would criminalise soliciting and loitering for the purposes of prostitution when it would be likely to cause alarm, nuisance or offence.The bill, as it currently stands, would criminalise soliciting and loitering for the purposes of prostitution when it would be likely to cause alarm, nuisance or offence.
If the bill is not amended, it will fail to address the problems faced by communities affected by prostitution Bristow MuldoonCommittee convenor
However, loitering would not be an offence if the person was in a private car.However, loitering would not be an offence if the person was in a private car.
The MSPs' report described this as "unacceptable" and said unless the proposals were amended, it "would call into question" the whole point of the bill. If the bill is not amended, it will fail to address the problems faced by communities affected by prostitution Bristow MuldoonCommittee convenor
It called on the Scottish Executive to expand the offence of loitering to include private cars, claiming this was crucial to address to problem of kerb crawling in residential areas. The committee called on the executive to expand the offence of loitering to include private cars, claiming this was crucial to address to problem of kerb crawling in residential areas.
The report also raised concerns that the new law could make it easier to set up "tolerance zones", despite the executive's opposition to the policy.The report also raised concerns that the new law could make it easier to set up "tolerance zones", despite the executive's opposition to the policy.
Maximum fine
MSPs warned that the way the bill was drafted meant that an offence may not be committed if no alarm, offence or nuisance was created.MSPs warned that the way the bill was drafted meant that an offence may not be committed if no alarm, offence or nuisance was created.
The proposed legislation would see the men buying sex and the women who sell it subject to the same maximum £500 fine.The proposed legislation would see the men buying sex and the women who sell it subject to the same maximum £500 fine.
However, the committee pointed out that prostitutes and their customers were likely to have very different financial circumstances and called on ministers to consider reviewing the penalties.However, the committee pointed out that prostitutes and their customers were likely to have very different financial circumstances and called on ministers to consider reviewing the penalties.
Committee convener Bristow Muldoon said: "The committee view is that if the bill is not amended, it will fail to address the problems faced by communities affected by prostitution."
Tougher penaltiesTougher penalties
Committee convener Bristow Muldoon said: "The committee view is that if the bill is not amended, it will fail to address the problems faced by communities affected by prostitution."
George Lyon, the deputy minister for finance and public service reform, gave evidence to MSPs twice as they considered the legislation.George Lyon, the deputy minister for finance and public service reform, gave evidence to MSPs twice as they considered the legislation.
Since then, he has said he was considering tougher penalties for those buying sex, as well as the possibility of introducing an offence to criminalise loitering in a private car.Since then, he has said he was considering tougher penalties for those buying sex, as well as the possibility of introducing an offence to criminalise loitering in a private car.
Mr Muldoon said: "We recognise and welcome that the executive's position on a number of key issues appears to be shifting.Mr Muldoon said: "We recognise and welcome that the executive's position on a number of key issues appears to be shifting.
"The committee is prepared to give ministers the benefit of the considerable doubts which have been expressed to us about the workability of this bill.""The committee is prepared to give ministers the benefit of the considerable doubts which have been expressed to us about the workability of this bill."