Prostitution in the UK (632 hits)
Category: NoneRating: -0.4 on 25 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Garrik (View user info) at 2006-01-17 13:53:38 EST
The government just rejected a plan to allow legal prostitution in certain zones, however I believe a proposal to allow prostitutes to work together in brothels without facing further possible charges is being considered. In theory if they work together they can help each other out, or something, somehow it is meant to prevent them getting exploited so badly. The justification given for rejection of the legal zones was that worldwide examples of this law show no improvement in safety for women in the sex industry or a reduction in associated criminal activities.
My personal feeling is that whilst "ideally" the activity should be legal since a person should be able to choose what they do with their body, for money or not, I expect legalisation would just make it easier for "pimps" to exploit out of work women or poor immigrants and generally would just make life easier for people who exploit women, rather than women who would choose to do this voluntarily (a number I assume is quite low). I feel the best approach is tougher laws against those who force girls into these professions rather than against the girls themselves, and furthermore rather than encouraging or legalising the activity people should be made more aware of the terrible crimes associated with it.
Perhaps Mr Smith, the lonely fellah whose wife left him, wouldn't go have rumpy-pumpy with Peggy the Prostitute if he knew she was beaten up every night and had her money taken from her to appease Pimp Jimmy who spends all the cash on crack and that his custom only helped perpetuate the cycle. Or maybe not. Doesn't look like an easy issue to tackle.
I'd be interested to see what other people think, and also if people from countries with legalised prostitution have any different viewpoint or input about how things are in their country.
User Reviews
Submitted by Adereterial (user info) at 2006-01-18 06:36:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by shandythedog (user info) at 2006-01-17 17:57:35 (#)
Ranking: 0
it's illegal there???
what a backward country
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Prostitution itself is not illegal - soliciting is illegal. It's a flaw in our legal system that has needed patching for a long time. You can sell sex as much as you like - as long as you don't advertise, or co-operate with others.
I see this problem first hand everyday. There's a notice at the end of my street 'Kerb Crawlers will be arrested,' which, aside from a blatent indictment of the area in which I live, is precisely where these poor girls stand. And I mean girls, not women - most of them are, I suspect, under 20 and there is at least one who looks under 15.
I feel so sorry for them, more than anything...
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-01-18 06:03:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Yes, I heard that on the BBC yesterday morning on my way in to work as well. I've no idea what to make of the situation, being a US citizen, other than say "roll dem bones."
Submitted by EvilGav (user info) at 2006-01-17 20:02:05 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Amsterdam - Prostitution is legal and controlled within the red-light district, outside that area it 's in a sort of limbo, it's not exactly legal nor is it exactly illegal. Within the controlled area, it is *extremely* controlled. You want an example, whip out a camera and try to take a girls photo whos sat in the window - you'll have a bouncer on you sonner than you can turn around. It's all *very* private.
The seedier side to Amsterdam - Behind Centrall station, where the crack-whores hang-out.
Similar stories can be told the world over for every country that has legalised and for every country that hasn't.
In China it's technically illegal, however the police wont raid hotels of 4* and over due to their being more chance of Westerners being in them. Every hotel has Karaoke rooms, yet I didn't hear a single song being sung in all the time I was in China . . .
In Hong Kong, it's illegal, but since the Triads run that area of town (Bathroom Street and Kow-loon), the police don't have much say.
Personally : legalise, tax and manage it. Sort out health-care for those that want it and drug re-hab for those that need it.
Submitted by shandythedog (user info) at 2006-01-17 17:57:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
it's illegal there???
what a backward country
here in australia, or in canberra at least, very much legal and out in the open, even have sex workers unions
working in a properly licensed brothel here does not involve any form of coercion. 'in my skin' by kate holden is a good first hand account.
of course problm remains of junkies being forced to sell their cunts due to financial pressures, but the answer rthere is drug law reform. also problem of illegal immigrants working in illegal brothels, some of these i believe are bascially slaves. solution there is total reform of world economic system, or possibly just a massive nucloear war to wipe our stinking species out.
Submitted by Garrik (user info) at 2006-01-17 15:02:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I thought I read there was still a lot of shadyness to it in Amsterdam too, but as I said earlier I don't know anyone from there and haven't been there myself so was really waiting to see what someone said. Besides it is also legal in other countries too, no trend can be observed from a single case only.
And yeah fair enough.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:54:12 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I want an
all
time
love
to find me...eee...e...
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:53:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"My personal feeling is that whilst "ideally" the activity should be legal since a person should be able to choose what they do with their body, for money or not, I expect legalisation would just make it easier for "pimps" to exploit out of work women or poor immigrants and generally would just make life easier for people who exploit women, rather than women who would choose to do this voluntarily (a number I assume is quite low)."
Not if it is legalized and regulated, with pimps taken out of the picture. Isn't it true that prostitutes who work legally in places like Amsterdam get benefits, healthcare, HIV tests, etc? And without fear of prosecution, the whole operation is less shady.
"Perhaps Mr Smith, the lonely fellah whose wife left him, wouldn't go have rumpy-pumpy with Peggy the Prostitute if he knew she was beaten up every night and had her money taken from her to appease Pimp Jimmy who spends all the cash on crack and that his custom only helped perpetuate the cycle. Or maybe not. Doesn't look like an easy issue to tackle."
Your optimism is astounding. The above is exactly what happens, none of it is a big secret to the patrons of prostitutes. Not to pick on johns or anything, but do you think the majority gives a shit about what happens to these women after they're done with them?
Submitted by Garrik (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:50:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Every government that comes in raises taxation (or social security payments), they just don't shout about it much, it's been the case with every new term Labour has won as well, so I don't think generating revenue for such things is the biggest issue... but you're probably right on the other bits. I wasn't claiming to have all the answers, just rambling so that I was putting something of myself into it instead of just regurgitating news - I'm certainly no expert on the field, nor was I expecting my opinion to be particularly informed, which is the whole point of this.
Submitted by FilthyAssistant (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:38:27 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
"I feel the best approach is tougher laws against those who force girls into these professions rather than against the girls themselves, and furthermore rather than encouraging or legalising the activity people should be made more aware of the terrible crimes associated with it."
Dude the reason they are capable of being coerced into it is because their lives are utter shit. I'm not talking about the Julia Roberts of the call girl world here - the women who live a life they would never be able to afford in any other profession - but the *real* problem - the toothless old crackwhores peddling their tired wares for just another syringe. Lock the pimps up and more will take their place - you have to tackle the root cause if you want to make any kind of headway. You need some kind of social policy that tries to stop people falling through the cracks, and for that you need taxation - not exactly an election-winner, is it?
"Perhaps Mr Smith, the lonely fellah whose wife left him, wouldn't go have rumpy-pumpy with Peggy the Prostitute if he knew she was beaten up every night and had her money taken from her to appease Pimp Jimmy who spends all the cash on crack and that his custom only helped perpetuate the cycle."
Bullshit. We all already know what happens to hookers and, ultimately, we don't give a shit. If Mr Smith wants to go fuck a prostitute, he will find a way to justify it to himself no matter what you tell him about her life.
Submitted by Garrik (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:36:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
That was the justification given by the government not me, to be honest I wouldn't know - never been to Amsterdam nor know anyone from there, which is one of the reasons I put this up; to get some feedback about other places/other people's thoughts.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:25:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"The justification given for rejection of the legal zones was that worldwide examples of this law show no improvement in safety for women in the sex industry or a reduction in associated criminal activities."
Amsterdam. Isn't prostitution safe there?
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:25:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"The justification given for rejection of the legal zones was that worldwide examples of this law show no improvement in safety for women in the sex industry or a reduction in associated criminal activities."
bunny ranch.
Submitted by Garrik (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:18:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
It sounds best when said by Rowan Atkinson, but I digress.
Submitted by leilani (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:17:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
well, i like the phrase "RUMPY-PUMPY"
doesn't sound so great with my jersey accent though.
Submitted by Garrik (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:16:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Interesting reaction
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:15:09 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Z you crack me up.
We all know British whores are some of the nastiest women out there. WHO WOULD HAVE SEX WITH THAT?!?! REALY?
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:02:59 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
unlike, for example, you.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:02:40 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
he's really very talented.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:01:34 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Any Will Young fans out there?
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:01:20 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:01:11 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:01:05 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
you, know I've written nothing on this site for ages. have some -2's.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 14:00:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
also, the tolerance zone in Edinburgh was considered a "success" while it lasted, in that it kept pros away from residential areas and within well-policed areas.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 13:57:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
though, it was surprising to read that it's currently legal for JUST ONE prostitute to operate out a residence. not more than one, but one is legit. I had not idea that was the case.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2006-01-17 13:56:05 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I think we should base our prostitution policies on Taxi Driver.