Should we outlaw prostitution?

[Loosehead]

Well Harriet wants to outlaw paying for sex, works for me, free sex all round, presumably the governement will be issuing some sort of vouchers!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7153358 .stm

[beryllium]

oooh.... I think there may be a few male MPs that won't be supporting her lol

[Skreecheeboy]

I think prostitution should be allowed in licensed brothels. Much safer for the girls and saves going abroad for it.

[beryllium]

just an extra.... Religion??? Hope someone brings Rahab into the 'debate'.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahab

[soozmac]

they tried to make me go to Rahab, but I said no no no.

(sorry)

[paulos66]

And if you read a bit about the Swedish experiment very little has changed except there is no help available for the girls any more - free condoms, help to get off drugs etc

[naomi24]

Well, that'll be the end of 'Buy one get one free' then!

Joking aside, prostitution is the oldest profession, and no law will ever stop it. It would be far more sensible to legalise it and allow properly registered brothels to be set up where girls would be properly protected from the criminal element, and also be able to undergo regular health checks. That way, both them and their clients would be safer - and hopefully the pimps who currently prey on vulnerable young girls would be out of business. I don't suppose it will ever happen though - when did this government ever do anything sensible?!

[Skreecheeboy]

They did ban smoking in enclosed public places.

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, i dont think it would make any difference if you made it illegal.
If people want to pay for a service let them. It probably would be better if brothels were a place you could just go on a night out, just like a pub or casino. It would be much safer for the women...

[naomi24]

You got me there, Skreech.

[beryllium]

If they manage to get this law passed??? I wonder if, and it's a BIG IF, the Consevatives were ever to get back in power?

Would they reverse it???

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think it would work - as previously said you'd be back to pushing it underground..

I think the main argument is about human traficking so the best approach would be licensing and inspections but you can imagine the headlines.

"Gordon Brown the nation's pimp" etc.

The law's an absolute dog's dinner in this area and always has been and it needs someone with guts to sort it out.

I don't think this is going to help anyone - I fore see a load of consultative commitees before it's quietly shelved as too much of a minefield - usual procedure!

[paulos66]

It'd still be legal to sell sex just not pay for it - this would not end prostition - just change the onus- the punter would be guilty of abuse by paying for sex - if I've understood it correctly that is

[Loosehead]

Probably the Tories wouldn't reverese it because it's one of those political grenades that will blow up in your face. So it'd probably be left as is, which is most likely what'll happen here anyway as jake points out.

[flip_flop]

I've just come back from a lads pi55-up weekend in Hamburg and most definitely think we need to go the European way and make it 'acceptable' and open.

If nothing else, by doing so, it might attract some lookers in to the profession instead of the old drippers you see in Soho and elsewhere - the girls in Hamburg were absolutely stunning!

Did I? Nope. Even after drinking I have come to realise I am a big old scaredy pansy because I just simply don't have the courage to get over the fact that they are prossers and it is being paid for! (plenty of blokes in the group did though).

[MrBen5]

How much did they charge?

[legend758duo]

isnt prostitution illegal ??

[Skreecheeboy]

I think it's only illegal in Scotland Legend. It was tolerated in certain places but now the lassies have to take more and more risks by making house calls to punters. Shocking turn around imho.

[flip_flop]

50 euros

[kwicky]

Doesn't Harman realise that denying men sex will make it more dangerous for women. A prostitute may be the only outlet fro some men to engage in sex.

[Ethel]

Prostitution is not illegal in the UK.

Kerb crawling, soliciting, living off immoral earnings (pimping) and brothels are illegal.

One woman selling sex in a flat or house isn't illegal.