Number 10 petition to criminalise men who buy sex

[policywonk]

Sign here if, you know, you want to

no

Signed.

no.

I'm in two minds.

Why would people would say no to signing this petition?

Not stirring or with an agenda btw, genuinely interested in the reasoning.

I guess it's the argument that prostitutes would be better served by legalisation than by criminalisation (even if you're only criminalising 'punters' )?

I'd rather they legalised prostitution and had decently run brothels like those in the US. It might be safer for the girls.

no

Message withdrawn

no

scaryteacher says it well

The reports coming in from the Nordic countries - from prostitutes themselves - say that making buying sex illegal has made their lives much more dangerous. They can't work together for safety, they can't take enough time to make a reasonable assessment of the bloke in the car because they're all scared of the police. And yes, it's scared off some of the "nicer" guys, so a higher proportion of their punters aren't so nice.

Another no.

Would prefer legalisation, registration etc.

Dittany is entirely correct.

The majority of these women are so vulnerable,abused and powerless it is horrific. Prostitution annihilates women. Men cannot think it is ok to have sex with them

Prostitution may be dangerous, particularly at street-level, but prostitutes are reporting increased numbers and severity of attacks since the legislation was passed. We don't need to make it more dangerous, do we?

It's odd that the safest way to work as a prostitute - in a well-run brothel - is illegal (for the brothel-owner, not the prostitute).

well, I've signed.

its shows like the Belle De Jour one that glamorises the "industry" that are the problem.

people watch it and think that it cant be that bad. that some how these women enjoy what they are doing.

NO ONE has ever sat down aged 16 and thought, i know, when i leave school i'll become a whore.

its not a choice for any of these girls.

OK, so what is the punishment to be? A fine? A tap on the wrist from a judge who regularly pays for sex? If it ever gets to court?

Can't see that this will help the vulnerable women trapped (and I accept not all are vulnerable or trapped) in this lifestyle.

I have the greatest respect for Dittany and will review my stance on legalisation but I still think it might provide more protection.

This Swedish sex worker is very articulate.

Being put on sex offenders register would be a good result - so long as it's automatic on conviction and not discretionary.