P4P in Scotland

New plans to tackle prostitution by criminalising pimps, brothel keepers and customers are to be launched in the Scottish Parliament.

Labour MSP Trish Godman, who unsuccessfully attempted to add a prostitution amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that was passed in the summer, is to launch a consultation on a new private members bill, with people able to comment on it until 18 February.

The Criminalisation of the Purchase and Sale of Sex (Scotland) Bill , focuses on the people who facilitate and purchase sex, while treating the sex worker as a victim.

Ms Godman said: Prostitution should be regarded in Scotland as an abuse and an exploitation that will not be tolerated - we must call time on the punters, pimps and brothel keepers. My legislation will challenge the whole acceptance of men buying sex.

Update: 'Consultation'

Thanks to Melanie-H
27th November 2010. See  'Consultation' document [pdf] from  scottish.parliament.uk

Trish Godman has published a worthless one sided, and presumably private 'consultation' which only allows for opinions supporting her aims:

• to make the purchasing/selling of sex indoors illegal;
• and to strengthen existing legislation to criminalise activities linked to prostitution, specifically advertising and facilitating

She has put together a 'consultation' document with no provision whatsoever to oppose the proposal. It asks:

1. Which option do you favour? Please explain the reasons for your choice.
   Option 1 is to criminalise both the seller and the purchaser;
   Option 2 is to criminalise only the purchaser.
    
2. What penalties would have a deterrent effect for the purchaser/seller?
    
3. What are the barriers to policing and enforcing a prohibition on advertising?
    
4. What penalties are appropriate for those who advertise brothels or prostitution, bearing in mind these may range from individuals such as prostitutes to organised crime gang members?
    
5. What are there barriers to policing and enforcing this aspect of the proposal?
    
6. What penalties are appropriate for those that facilitate prostitution, bearing in mind these might be individuals such as prostitutes or organised crime gang members?
    
7. What other costs might arise as a consequence of this proposal?
    
8. Are there any equality issues that arise from this proposal?

Responses are invited by 18th February 2011 to:

Trish Godman MSP
Q2.08a
Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh EH99 1SP

Tel: 0131 348 5837
Fax: 0131 348 6460
E-mail: trish.godman.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

5851 people have given their backing to the End Prostitution Now Campaign run by Glasgow Community & Safety Services and to a Member's Bill tabled by Labour MSP Trish Godman.

Both are calling for changes in the law to criminalise the buying of sex n flats, saunas and other premises.

Councillor Jim Coleman, Chair of Glasgow Community & Safety Services, presented the petition to Godman.

The proposed changes seek to introduce legislation to make it a criminal offence to purchase sex. It would also make it illegal to facilitate the sale of sexual services for example, by advertising in newspapers, on the internet or by allowing premises to be used for such purposes.

Godman said:

It is my firmly held belief that male demand fuels prostitution in Scotland and only by criminalising that demand can we call time on this harmful activity. The number of signatories on the End Prostitution Now petition shows clearly that this is a widely held view.

The response to the petition reinforces the favourable feedback I have already received while consulting on my Member's Bill. The consultation has now closed and this show of support is vital in progressing my proposals to the next stage.

The mean minded Scottish MP, Trish Godman, has published a private members bill to criminalise buying sex. She also published a 'consultation' paper with leading questions on how much people agreed with her views.

She has now published a summary of responses:

1. The intention of the proposed Bill is to criminalise the purchasers of sex and related selling activities. The consultation document accompanying the draft proposal for the Criminalisation of the Purchase and Sale of Sex (Scotland) Bill was issued on 24 November 2010 and was open for comment until 18 February 2011. A number of late submissions were received after the closing date; these were accepted and have been included in the analysis.
    
2. The consultation document was made available from a link on the Proposals for Members Bills webpage on the Scottish Parliament Website: The Scottish Parliament: - Bills - Proposals for Members' Bills at www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/membersBills.htm . It was also issued to 146 organisations and individuals with an interest in the issue. Recipients were encouraged to bring the consultation to the attention of anyone else they thought might have an interest in the subject matter.
    
3. In total 122 responses were received; these were made up of the following groups:

38 individuals
20 anti-violence against women organisations
9 academics
9 equality/human rights organisations
9 health boards
8 local authorities (including the Association of Directors of Social Work)
8 support groups
6 women's business organisations
5 pro-prostitution organisations
4 criminal justice organisations
3 religious organisations
1 child protection group
1 legislator
1 trade union organisation

78 (64%) Responses supported the proposed Bill either in whole or in part.
39 (32%) Against the Bill
5 (4%) Neutral

Consultation Conclusions

The responses to consultation have provided a number of ideas that the member will consider and use to further develop the policy before completing the drafting of the bill.