WIREDGOV

Tougher laws on kerb crawlers as part of greater protection for vulnerable women

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 07 March 2010

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