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| UK 'should outlaw paying for sex' | UK 'should outlaw paying for sex' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Commons Leader Harriet Harman has told the BBC she wants the law to be changed to make it illegal to pay for sex. | Commons Leader Harriet Harman has told the BBC she wants the law to be changed to make it illegal to pay for sex. |
| She said ministers were to look at how Sweden brought in such a law, and said a "big debate" was needed in the UK. | She said ministers were to look at how Sweden brought in such a law, and said a "big debate" was needed in the UK. |
| It would counter international human trafficking which sees girls bought and sold by criminals in the UK, she added. | It would counter international human trafficking which sees girls bought and sold by criminals in the UK, she added. |
| Buying or selling sex is legal, but many activities related to prostitution such as kerb crawling, brothel keeping, pimping and soliciting are not. | Buying or selling sex is legal, but many activities related to prostitution such as kerb crawling, brothel keeping, pimping and soliciting are not. |
| The government has toughened its stance on prostitution in recent years, after initially considering "tolerance zones". | The government has toughened its stance on prostitution in recent years, after initially considering "tolerance zones". |
| Plans to permit small brothels, with two prostitutes and a maid, to operate legally also appear to have been shelved. | Plans to permit small brothels, with two prostitutes and a maid, to operate legally also appear to have been shelved. |
| A Home Office spokesman said the idea was being put out to "further consultation" after concerns were raised about its impact on local neighbourhoods. | A Home Office spokesman said the idea was being put out to "further consultation" after concerns were raised about its impact on local neighbourhoods. |
| 'Sexual exploitation' | 'Sexual exploitation' |
| The government is carrying out a wholesale review of the laws around prostitution, with the aim of reducing demand and increasing the safety of sex workers. | The government is carrying out a wholesale review of the laws around prostitution, with the aim of reducing demand and increasing the safety of sex workers. |
| But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said there would be a "mini review" looking at lessons from Sweden. | But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said there would be a "mini review" looking at lessons from Sweden. |
| Do we think it's right in the 21st Century that women should be in a sex trade or do we think it's exploitation and should be banned Harriet HarmanCommons leader How it works in SwedenYour views on law change | Do we think it's right in the 21st Century that women should be in a sex trade or do we think it's exploitation and should be banned Harriet HarmanCommons leader How it works in SwedenYour views on law change |
| She said: "We recognise that there is considerable support for us to do more to tackle the demand for prostitution and to prevent the trafficking of people for sexual exploitation. | She said: "We recognise that there is considerable support for us to do more to tackle the demand for prostitution and to prevent the trafficking of people for sexual exploitation. |
| "Early next year Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker will visit Sweden to look at the progress they have made in addressing these issues. | "Early next year Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker will visit Sweden to look at the progress they have made in addressing these issues. |
| "This visit will be the start of a short term review exploring what more we can do to strengthen our approach in this area." | "This visit will be the start of a short term review exploring what more we can do to strengthen our approach in this area." |
| A Home Office spokesman said it was "too early to say" whether any changes to the law would apply across the UK or just in England and Wales. | A Home Office spokesman said it was "too early to say" whether any changes to the law would apply across the UK or just in England and Wales. |
| Brothel keeping | Brothel keeping |
| The Sexual Offences Act 2003 made it illegal to buy sex from anyone aged under 18 and introduced tough penalties for trafficking adults and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation. | The Sexual Offences Act 2003 made it illegal to buy sex from anyone aged under 18 and introduced tough penalties for trafficking adults and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation. |
| UK PROSTITUTION LAWS Prostitution is not illegalBrothel-keeping is a criminal offenceKerb-crawling and soliciting are also illegalThe Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced penalties against those who sexually exploit childrenTrafficking adults or children for the purposes of committing sexual offences was also outlawed | UK PROSTITUTION LAWS Prostitution is not illegalBrothel-keeping is a criminal offenceKerb-crawling and soliciting are also illegalThe Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced penalties against those who sexually exploit childrenTrafficking adults or children for the purposes of committing sexual offences was also outlawed |
| It is not illegal for an individual aged over 18 to work as a prostitute in off-street premises but where there is more than one prostitute, the owner of the premises can be prosecuted for keeping a brothel. | It is not illegal for an individual aged over 18 to work as a prostitute in off-street premises but where there is more than one prostitute, the owner of the premises can be prosecuted for keeping a brothel. |
| Many of the activities associated with street prostitution, such as soliciting and kerb-crawling, are also illegal and it is against the law to advertise sexual services on cards in telephone boxes. | Many of the activities associated with street prostitution, such as soliciting and kerb-crawling, are also illegal and it is against the law to advertise sexual services on cards in telephone boxes. |
| The current laws are largely aimed at reducing nuisance for local neighbourhoods, a Home Office spokesman said. | The current laws are largely aimed at reducing nuisance for local neighbourhoods, a Home Office spokesman said. |
| But Harriet Harman says more needs to be done to tackle demand and protect women. | |
| 'Very big debate' | 'Very big debate' |
| She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Just because something has always gone on, doesn't mean you just wring your hands and say, 'Oh well there's nothing we can do about it'. | She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Just because something has always gone on, doesn't mean you just wring your hands and say, 'Oh well there's nothing we can do about it'. |
| "We do need to have a debate and unless you tackle the demand side of human trafficking which is fuelling this trade, we will not be able to protect women from it. | "We do need to have a debate and unless you tackle the demand side of human trafficking which is fuelling this trade, we will not be able to protect women from it. |
| "That is what they've done in Sweden. My own personal view is that's what we need to do as a next step." | "That is what they've done in Sweden. My own personal view is that's what we need to do as a next step." |
| Outside of sex trafficking, it seems to me that it's the women exploiting the men Godfrey Bloom, UKIP MEP | Outside of sex trafficking, it seems to me that it's the women exploiting the men Godfrey Bloom, UKIP MEP |
| She said that Home Office minister Vernon Coaker would visit Amsterdam as well as Sweden - and would be joined on the trip in January by women's minister Barbara Follet. | She said that Home Office minister Vernon Coaker would visit Amsterdam as well as Sweden - and would be joined on the trip in January by women's minister Barbara Follet. |
| Ms Harman, who is also deputy Labour leader and equality secretary, said she wanted a "very big debate" on the issue involving groups such as the Women's Institute, community organisations, Church and other faith groups. | Ms Harman, who is also deputy Labour leader and equality secretary, said she wanted a "very big debate" on the issue involving groups such as the Women's Institute, community organisations, Church and other faith groups. |
| This should look at whether "we think it's right in the 21st Century that women should be in a sex trade or do we think it's exploitation and should be banned". | This should look at whether "we think it's right in the 21st Century that women should be in a sex trade or do we think it's exploitation and should be banned". |
| Newspaper ads | Newspaper ads |
| Ms Harman said action needed to be taken to tackle the demand side of international human trafficking, which had led to "teenage girls being bought and sold by criminal gangs in car parks in this country". | Ms Harman said action needed to be taken to tackle the demand side of international human trafficking, which had led to "teenage girls being bought and sold by criminal gangs in car parks in this country". |
| She was speaking after talks with newspapers over small advertisements offering services at brothels believed to be linked to human trafficking. | She was speaking after talks with newspapers over small advertisements offering services at brothels believed to be linked to human trafficking. |
| Ms Harman said there was to be new guidance from the Newspaper Society next month that would address the issue. | Ms Harman said there was to be new guidance from the Newspaper Society next month that would address the issue. |
| "The new guidance will stop those ads. But the next question is - can we really stop this trade when we've still got a lawful sex trade going on?" | "The new guidance will stop those ads. But the next question is - can we really stop this trade when we've still got a lawful sex trade going on?" |
| Conservative MP Philip Hollobone, who has tabled an amendment to the government's Criminal Justice Bill to introduce a ban on prostitution, welcomed Ms Harman's words. | Conservative MP Philip Hollobone, who has tabled an amendment to the government's Criminal Justice Bill to introduce a ban on prostitution, welcomed Ms Harman's words. |
| He said: "I am very encouraged. The bottom line here is that the problem of prostitution and the international trafficking of women has now grown to such an extent - with London the European capital of this trade - that the government simply cannot ignore this any more." | He said: "I am very encouraged. The bottom line here is that the problem of prostitution and the international trafficking of women has now grown to such an extent - with London the European capital of this trade - that the government simply cannot ignore this any more." |
| 'More risky' | 'More risky' |
| But Liberal Democrat spokesman David Howarth said a ban was not the answer - and could put women in more danger. | But Liberal Democrat spokesman David Howarth said a ban was not the answer - and could put women in more danger. |
| "Evidence from Sweden in making prostitution illegal has shown that it doesn't help in reducing human trafficking. It, in fact, increases violence against women and makes the practice of prostitution far more risky for all involved. | "Evidence from Sweden in making prostitution illegal has shown that it doesn't help in reducing human trafficking. It, in fact, increases violence against women and makes the practice of prostitution far more risky for all involved. |
| "Outlawing prostitution completely will mean that men will be far less likely to come forward to help with prosecutions for fear of criminalisation themselves." | "Outlawing prostitution completely will mean that men will be far less likely to come forward to help with prosecutions for fear of criminalisation themselves." |
| The UK Independence Party said consensual prostitution should remain legal and the government should strengthen immigration controls to prevent trafficking. | The UK Independence Party said consensual prostitution should remain legal and the government should strengthen immigration controls to prevent trafficking. |
| UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom joked that if the government wanted to "stop the oldest profession" ministers should choke it in red tape. | UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom joked that if the government wanted to "stop the oldest profession" ministers should choke it in red tape. |
| "The quickest way of disrupting an industry and making it commercially unviable is for the government to interfere; I am sure there are some former politicians around who would be ideally placed to head a quango. | "The quickest way of disrupting an industry and making it commercially unviable is for the government to interfere; I am sure there are some former politicians around who would be ideally placed to head a quango. |
| "Ms Harman said that she wants to look at ways of ending the 'exploitation' of women but outside of sex trafficking, it seems to me that it's the women exploiting the men." | "Ms Harman said that she wants to look at ways of ending the 'exploitation' of women but outside of sex trafficking, it seems to me that it's the women exploiting the men." |