Britain Examines Prostitution Control
- posted by Jim Leitzel @ 6:26 PM

Prostitution is legal in the UK, but street walking and other prostitution-related activities remain illegal. The current prostitution control regime is under review, however, with an eye towards loosening restrictions, and perhaps even setting up "zones of tolerance." Part of the reason for the review is that the current regime is perceived as putting prostitutes at increased risk for assault. (In September, 2003, a man with a history of mental instability was found guilty of killing three London prostitutes.) Once again, pressure to reform also comes from looking at vice control elsewhere; here's an excerpt from the linked BBC article:

"The head of Scotland Yard's homicide squad was quoted as telling a conference in Birmingham: 'There is a need now for an informed debate.

'We know that sex workers are vulnerable. I know that attacks, violence, drugs and criminal control are lower in tolerance zones. We can learn from the Dutch.'"

Labels: harm reduction, Prohibition, prostitution