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Smith rethinks ‘unworkable’ law on men who pay for prostitutes
Martin Bentham19 May 2009
Jacqui Smith was today accused of retreating over plans to criminalise men who pay for sex with prostitutes.
The Home Secretary announced last year that she intended to make it an offence for a man to have sex with any woman who was “controlled for gain” by another person.
Under the original plans, it would have been illegal for a man to pay for sex with any woman who was “controlled for gain” — even if he had no idea she was being controlled. The wording of the legislation has now changed so that it will only be a crime if the woman has been “subjected to force, deception or threats”. That is likely to be much harder to prove.
The London-based Poppy Project, which helps victims of trafficking and prostitution, said it was “extremely disappointed by this backward move”.
Frances Brodrick, its director of services, said: “This amendment reverses the significant progress made towards appropriate legislation over the past 18 months.”
Police chiefs said the original proposal, in a Policing and Crime Bill that is before Parliament, was unworkable. The English Collective of Prostitutes also argued that it could endanger some women. It today welcomed the new wording but said the key clause should be scrapped altogether as laws were already in place to tackle men who trafficked or abused women.
Reader views (13)
Women have been known to pay for sex too, sometimes with female prostitutes. Would they also be liable for prosecution or is it only men "who should think carefully before they pay for sex"?
- Paul, East Anglia, UK, 20/05/2009 08:14
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Since this halfwit woman clearly didn't think out the law in the first place, how on earth can she REthink it. And she's not going to be around for more than another couple of weeks, so why doesn't she just keep her ignorant and offensive mouth firmly closed and start packing the porn away.
- .Lezli Taubler, London / UK, 20/05/2009 03:26
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This motion was first dreamed up by Hariot Harman and Denis MacShane..
Not even stopping to understand the complexity of man and how we are all have very different needs. The "Massage Parlor" has such an important role to play in our society. It offers,in most cases, a clean and safe place for men to vent their often pent up sexual frustration.. In the extreme scenario's this might well deter rape and also help clean up street prostitution.
Trafficking is another subject. I could tell you about my local police and their perception of trafficking and being force to work?
Police State Or What ?? Rob
- Robert, Swindon, 19/05/2009 22:15
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First of all, the law is about prostitution - irrespective of whether either is male or female. Secondly, the law should not have a moral position - it is coercion, trafficing and threat that the law should prevent, not the selling/buying of sex between consenting adults. So, RF, there is no 'filth' only forced behaviour - it is none of our business who watches what between consenting adults.
- Peter Bench, London, 19/05/2009 15:59
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Still "unworkable" because it violates a principal tenet of the criminal law, the guilty party must know that he or she has committed a crime.
- Blackstone Coke, London, 19/05/2009 15:00
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Decriminalise/legalise the trade, only way of protecting women and getting to grips with the nasty side to it.
If Labour had even the slightest grip on immigration then trafficking would simply not be a problem.
Smutty Smith is bringing in legislation to simply punish men, not to tackle the wider social problems.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 19/05/2009 13:37
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That's so rich coming from old Jackboot Jackie.
My good god, shame on you, clearly you have no decency as a Woman, how you manage the bare face cheek to show your face following the porno film farce baffles most of us.
- George, Hempstead - Kent, 19/05/2009 13:24
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Both as previously proposed and as now reported, it is utterly impossible for a law-abiding man to know whether a prostitute is working as a free woman or under duress. If it is un-knowable whether one is breaking a law or not, that law is both pointless and bad.
If they want to make paying for a prostitute illegal for the client (as in most of the USA) let them propose that. It would at least be a clear law, as would the issues in the debate on whether such a law is desirable.
- Nigel, London, 19/05/2009 12:58
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What about the women in pornogragraphic films (as watched by her husband, paid for by us) who are “subjected to force, deception or threats”.
This woman is beyond a joke.
- Goggs, London, 19/05/2009 12:11
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Typical labour thinking, why not use the current laws you have (there are plenty of them) and catch the trafickers simple really.
But no it's easier to go for the easy target in this case, men paying for sex.
- P Staker, London, 19/05/2009 12:09
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"she intended to make it an offence for a man to have sex with any woman who was “controlled for gain” by another person"
Smith is controlled by Brown for his personal gain (although it isn't working very well at the moment). Is that why Mr Smith thought he'd better seek alternative entertainment when Mrs Smith was away doing Gordon's bidding?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 19/05/2009 12:09
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Shouldn't there be a law against men watching pornographic films and claiming for the cost of these films on his wife's expenses - thus asking tax payers to foot the bill? The country would be better served if Jacqui Smith stayed at home and cleaned out the filth from her own back yard.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 19/05/2009 10:37
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Incredible - Labour dreaming up unworkable laws. Not heard of that before.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 19/05/2009 10:05
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