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/7044063.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Kerb-crawler law comes into force | Kerb-crawler law comes into force |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Legislation which makes kerb-crawling a criminal offence has come into force across Scotland. | Legislation which makes kerb-crawling a criminal offence has come into force across Scotland. |
| Anyone looking to pick up a prostitute will face a fine of up to £1,000. | Anyone looking to pick up a prostitute will face a fine of up to £1,000. |
| Until now, the law in Scotland has criminalised those selling sex on the streets and largely ignored those who demand their services. | Until now, the law in Scotland has criminalised those selling sex on the streets and largely ignored those who demand their services. |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said it corrects an unfair legal position, although it has led to the scrapping of a tolerance zone in Aberdeen. | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said it corrects an unfair legal position, although it has led to the scrapping of a tolerance zone in Aberdeen. |
| The Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007, passed by parliament in February, criminalises soliciting a prostitute for sex and loitering for the same purpose. | The Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007, passed by parliament in February, criminalises soliciting a prostitute for sex and loitering for the same purpose. |
| The Scottish Government is also working with Westminster to ensure that in future the courts will have the power to disqualify offenders from driving. | The Scottish Government is also working with Westminster to ensure that in future the courts will have the power to disqualify offenders from driving. |
| Those who leave their comfortable homes to exploit the vulnerable women on our streets will rightly face the full force of the law Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7044735.stm">City's prostitution zone scrapped | |
| Mr MacAskill said the law showed that the SNP administration would not turn a blind eye to the people who sustain and fuel an "exploitative trade". | Mr MacAskill said the law showed that the SNP administration would not turn a blind eye to the people who sustain and fuel an "exploitative trade". |
| "It corrects an unfair legal position where only those engaged in prostitution could be targeted, while the kerb-crawlers demanding their services - often harassing the wider community in the process - get off scot free," he said. | "It corrects an unfair legal position where only those engaged in prostitution could be targeted, while the kerb-crawlers demanding their services - often harassing the wider community in the process - get off scot free," he said. |
| He added: "Those who leave their comfortable homes to exploit the vulnerable women on our streets, without a thought for the damage they do, will rightly face the full force of the law." | He added: "Those who leave their comfortable homes to exploit the vulnerable women on our streets, without a thought for the damage they do, will rightly face the full force of the law." |
| In Aberdeen, police announced that the legislation meant the end of the street prostitute management zone which has operated in the city's harbour area since 2001. | In Aberdeen, police announced that the legislation meant the end of the street prostitute management zone which has operated in the city's harbour area since 2001. |
| It follows discussions with the local procurator fiscal and other agencies. | It follows discussions with the local procurator fiscal and other agencies. |
| "In light of the new legislation, it was decided the tolerance zone was not legally sustainable and had run its course," a Grampian Police spokesman said. | "In light of the new legislation, it was decided the tolerance zone was not legally sustainable and had run its course," a Grampian Police spokesman said. |
| "Officers will patrol the area and stop any vehicle or individuals they consider to be there for the purposes of obtaining the services of a prostitute." | "Officers will patrol the area and stop any vehicle or individuals they consider to be there for the purposes of obtaining the services of a prostitute." |
| 'Anti-social behaviour' | 'Anti-social behaviour' |
| Personal details of those stopped could be noted and they would be "educated" about the new laws, the spokesman added. | Personal details of those stopped could be noted and they would be "educated" about the new laws, the spokesman added. |
| Individuals may also be reported to the procurator fiscal. | Individuals may also be reported to the procurator fiscal. |
| Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson, of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos), welcomed the new laws. | Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson, of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos), welcomed the new laws. |
| "I think the many communities and businesses that have been blighted by the anti-social behaviour that kerb-crawlers create will also be relieved that we have the power to arrest persons who loiter in their areas, often accosting ordinary members of the public as they go about their daily lives," he said. | "I think the many communities and businesses that have been blighted by the anti-social behaviour that kerb-crawlers create will also be relieved that we have the power to arrest persons who loiter in their areas, often accosting ordinary members of the public as they go about their daily lives," he said. |
| Jan Macleod, of the Women's Support Project, said it was the first Scottish legislation to challenge directly the demand from men to buy sex. | Jan Macleod, of the Women's Support Project, said it was the first Scottish legislation to challenge directly the demand from men to buy sex. |
| "It sends out the important message that it is this demand to buy sex which is the root cause of prostitution," she said. | "It sends out the important message that it is this demand to buy sex which is the root cause of prostitution," she said. |