Police reject pr0stitute 'zones'

**4me2** · 10th December 2004

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A 1999 study estimated there were 80,000 pr0stitutes in the UK

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Proposals to create "official red light zones" where prostitution would be tolerated have been rejected by police.

Such measures would allow women's exploitation to continue, a report backed by the Association of Chief Police Officers said.

It also said police need to do more to stem the rising numbers of women forced onto the street by drug addiction.

The report follows government proposals to amend prostitution laws and sex workers' calls for decriminalisation.

'Massage parlours'

The study, by Gloucestershire's Chief Constable Dr Tim Brain, said there was no clear evidence that toleration zones would make prostitution more manageable.

In other countries where they have already been established evidence of their success was inconclusive, he said.

Dr Brain said the number of brothels masquerading as massage parlours was on the increase.

And he warned: "Trafficking of women into the country from other parts of the world is growing, as is its links with organised crime.

"It all represents misery and exploitation of too many women."

'Misery and exploitation'

Dr Brain, whose report has the support of all 43 chief constables in England and Wales, said prostitution had traditionally been a low priority for the police, which was mirrored in the wider community's views.

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Sex workers are calling for decriminalisation of their industry

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He said a gradual change was taking place, however, and police were beginning to realise prostitution was a growing problem.

Officers should concentrate on the harm that was being done to pr0stitutes and communities affected by the sex industry, Dr Brain added.

Friday's report also suggested that the number of women cautioned for street prostitution fell from 3,323 in 1993 to 732 in 2001.

The number of girls under 18 cautioned during the same period fell from 296 to just six.

The report will govern the way officers deal with prostitution until the results of a government review of the law, which started earlier this year. In launching the consultation, Home Secretary David Blunkett said he wanted to meet head-on "the devastating consequences of prostitution". 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4083839.stm

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**CON-DIGI** · 10th December 2004

As far as i know there are certain cities that have "Tolerance Zones", i belive there is one here in Manchester, and one has been proposed for liverpool.

You ain't gonna stop it, so try and manage it, stop the youngsters getting involved and the scumbag pimps who live off them.