HOME OFFICE News
Release (117-08) issued by The Government News Network on 20 June 2008
The Dutch approach
to prostitution was observed today by Home Office Minister Vernon
Coaker during a visit to the Netherlands, as part of the
Government's review into tackling the demand for prostitution.
The Government's six-month review began in January with a
visit to Sweden to explore the impact of legislation which
criminalises the purchase or attempted purchase of sex and
decriminalises its sale. The Netherlands takes a different
approach and currently has a licensing scheme for brothels,
meaning the organisation of prostitution by consenting adults is
not a criminal offence.
Ministers, including the Solicitor General Vera Baird and the
Deputy Minister for Women and Equality Barbara Follett, used the
visit to look at the impact of the Dutch Government's
legislation and the effect this has had in terms of the size and
nature of the market. The visit will also be used to find out more
about the current debate in the Netherlands about whether they
should be doing more to tackle demand.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"We recognise that there may be more we can do to challenge
the demand for prostitution and we are looking at how to
strengthen our approach.
"Today's visit to the Netherlands gives us an
opportunity to look at the challenges they have faced, the pros
and cons associated with a regulated commercial sex industry and
the work they are currently undertaking to reduce exploitation and
harm, including trafficking.
"We have already made considerable progress in terms of
shining the light on those who pay for sex, particularly in
relation to on-street prostitution. We are now looking at how the
problem is being tackled internationally to see what lessons we
can all learn from each other."
Solicitor General Vera Baird said:
"In the course of this review we have seen amongst our
European and world neighbours very different solutions to the same
problem. We are starting to develop more fully our ideas as to
what can work effectively for us.
"We need to tackle demand or we will be abandoning those
whose vulnerabilities are used to trap them in to the sex industry
to lives of misery".
Deputy Minister for Women and Equalities Barbara Follett said:
"Men who pay for sex fuel the evil trade of sex trafficking.
We support and protect victims, as well as catch and prosecute
traffickers; but now we must step up our efforts to tackle the
demand side.
"By visiting other countries, such as Sweden and the
Netherlands, we can learn from how they are responding to this
growing international problem, and make sure that we are doing all
we possibly can to stop this vile trade."
During the visit, Ministers met:
* The Minister for Justice;
* The Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam
and officials from the Local Government;
* The National
Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings;
* The National
Prosecutor on Human Trafficking;
* Amsterdam Police;
*
Representatives from Scharlaken Koord - a support service working
with those involved in prostitution; and
* Representatives
from the National Crime Squad and the Human Trafficking Expertise Centre.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Government undertook a comprehensive review of the legal
framework in relation to prostitution as part of the Paying the
Price consultation in 2004. The results of the consultation
contributed to the development of the Government's
Coordinated Prostitution Strategy which was published in January 2006:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-paying-the-price/
2. The Netherlands introduced a licensing scheme for brothels in
October 2000. The key objectives of the system are to:
* Have better ways and means to control and regulate the running
of (legal) prostitution businesses;
* Improve the fight
against the organisation of involuntary prostitution
(exploitation); and
* Protect minors from commercial sexual abuse.
3. Local municipalities are required to draw up their own bylaws
setting out how brothels can operate. These licensing schemes
determine the size and location of brothels, the provision of
basic services and the protection of workers' physical and
mental integrity. Brothels are not allowed to employ anyone under
the age of 18 or those without a valid permit. More information on
the Dutch model can be found at: http://english.justitie.nl/currenttopics/pressreleases/archives-2008/full-licensing-required-for-prostitution-services.aspx
4. The Government's six month review into tackling the
demand for prostitution is expected to conclude in July. It has:
* Looked at the experiences of other jurisdictions - not only
Sweden and the Netherlands, but countries that have adopted other
models such as New Zealand, Germany and Finland;
*
Commissioned a rapid assessment of research available on sex
buyers, to ensure this can feed into the review process;
*
Undertaken an audit of enforcement and prosecution practice in
England and Wales to learn from good practice and ensure that a
consistent approach is being taken to this issue across the
country;
* Run a pilot marketing campaign, focussed at sex
buyers to increase their awareness of trafficking for sexual
exploitation; and
* Consulted with key stakeholders and
practitioners, including the police, CPS and those supporting
individuals involved in prostitution.