Tougher laws on kerb
crawlers as part of greater protection for vulnerable women
STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 MONDAY 8 MARCH
Men hunting out paid-for sex on the street
can now be arrested on their first offence thanks to tough new
measures to tackle the demand for prostitution, Home Office
Minister Alan Campbell announced today, to coincide with
International Women’s Day.
A series of laws to protect vulnerable women by reducing the
demand for prostitution, including the police no longer having to
show kerb-crawlers are “persistent” before arresting them, will
come into effect on 1 April.
The new laws are designed to hit hardest those who create the
demand for prostitution, while helping people leave prostitution –
placing the emphasis on the punter not the often vulnerable women involved.
A new poster campaign was also launched today, warning of the
criminal penalties involved in paying for sex with someone who has
been exploited.
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:
"We are determined to tackle the demand for prostitution
and provide help for those who wish to leave prostitution.
"These new measures build on the significant action we
have already taken to tackle prostitution and trafficking for
sexual exploitation. They will help bring greater protection to
vulnerable people involved in prostitution.
"Alongside this we are also continuing our funding to
tackle the appalling crime of domestic violence with £4.3 million
to support help for victims – increasing our Multi Agency Risk
Assessment Conference and Independent Domestic Violence Adviser
coverage across England and Wales and continuing our support for a
matrix of helplines."
Other prostitution measures introduced from 1 April include:
• a new strict liability offence that will make it illegal to pay
for sexual services with a prostitute who is subject to
exploitative conduct, which includes force, deception or threats.
It will no longer be an excuse to say ‘I did not know’ and men who
ignore this risk a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record;
• giving courts the power to close down premises associated
with certain prostitution and pornography offences. Currently
there is little to stop such premises continuing to operate even
when they have been raided by the police. This will allow the
police to disrupt criminal activity associated with sexual
exploitation – especially involving children;
• a new penalty for the offence of loitering or soliciting
for the purposes of prostitution. The penalty will include a
requirement for women to attend meetings to address the causes of
their involvement and is designed to help them to leave street
prostitution, it can be used by courts instead of a fine; and
• changing the law to amend the term 'common
prostitute' as this term is outdated and offensive.
As part of the government’s commitment to tackling domestic
violence, the Home Office has allocated a further £4.3 million in
2010/11 for the roll-out of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment
Conferences and Independent Domestic Violence Advisers for every
area, and to continue funding a matrix of national helplines
providing support to victims of domestic violence.
To support practitioners the Home Office is also launching a
toolkit developed with the Greater London Domestic Violence
Project to support the coordinated community response model (CCRM)
to domestic violence. The CCRM recognises that all agencies must
work together in an integrated and coordinated way to tackle
domestic violence. The toolkit brings together guidance, research,
polices and information in one place and can be accessed via the
crime reduction website.
Meanwhile a new campaign to raise awareness of the cruel and
brutal practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was launched
today. The campaign includes a poster and a leaflet designed to be
displayed nationwide in key locations such as school staff rooms
and social workers’ offices alongside a dedicated website to
provide help and support for professionals, victims and survivors.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The prostitution measures come into effect on 1 April as part
of the Crime and Policing Act 2009: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2009/ukpga_20090026_en_1
2. For more information about how the government is tackling
prostitution, the new strict liability offence and to a obtain a
copy of the public information poster to encourage sex clients to
think about the consequences of their actions: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/prostitution
3. The FGM awareness campaign will start on 8 March. For more
information and to download a copy of the poster and leaflet
please visit the dedicated FGM website: www.fco.gov.uk/fgm or call
the Home Office newsdesk on 020 7035 3535 for a PDF copy. If you
wish to order hard copies of the poster or leaflet please email fgm@fco.gov.uk
4. For more information about the CCRM toolkit: http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/violentcrime/dv014.htm
or http://www.ccrm.org.uk/
5. For information on how the government is tackling violence
against women and girls: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/vawg-strategy-2009/index.html
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk