Talk:Prostitution in the United Kingdom

message: For completeness does anyone know the legal situation in Northern Ireland? --Achmelvic 16:16, 27 March 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: It is different in some regards - the law against kerb-crawling doesn't apply, for example. Unfortunately, NI Law is seen as a rather specialist subject and few of the sources I have mention it at all. Lovingboth 12:17, 21 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Northern Ireland

message: This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 05:25, 10 November 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  WikiProject class rating

message: I have removed the reference to there being c. 60 women in prison for defaulting on fines related to prostitution.  Table 33B of Prison Statistics Scotland, 2006-07  shows that the total number of receptions to prison in 2006-07 for females defaulting on fines imposed for crimes of indecency (which includes prostitution) was 15 - considerably lower than the figures in the late 1990s. As the average sentence imposed is around 10 days (see Table 34B in the same publication), the average daily prison population must be around 1, rather than 60.--George Burgess (talk) 21:25, 4 December 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Scotland - imprisonment for fine default 

message: This article makes lots of claims that do not cite sources such as 95% of prostitutes in one area having addiction problems. Does anyone have these sources? Father Time89 (talk) 16:01, 10 September 2008 (UTC)
thread_title: Sources?

message: I notice several research reports were recently removed due to considerations of neutrality. Maybe they were not in the right place or context, nevertheless evidence forms an important base for public policy, and findings such as Nick Mai's at London Metropolitan (full report due October) do challenge the rationale for some government policy, as does Suzanne Jenkins and that of many others. A place should be found for them, evidence itself cannot be considered bias - only its interpretation. Mgoodyear (talk) 16:13, 3 September 2009 (UTC)
thread_title: Neutrality

message: The article says that prostitution is "legal". I think that what it should actually say is that prostition is not a criminal offence (which is not the same thing). My understanding is that prostitution is illegal in the sense that the "contract" between the prostitute and her client is an illegal contract which is null and void and cannot be enforced by any legal means.James500 (talk) 09:46, 19 April 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  "Legality" 

message: is there a way to request this in articul to be translated into swedish?  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.89.116.166 (talk) 12:53, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  svenska oversattnng 

message: The following passage: "Laws are not always strictly enforced, and many brothels in cities such as Manchester and London operate under the name "Massage parlours", with police forces often turning a blind eye to such establishments" is not attributed to any source.  Because it is a serious allegation of police misconduct, I believe it should quote a research-based source.  (I apologize if this issue has been placed in an incorrect area for discussion.) Samson3000 (talk) 21:56, 15 February 2016 (UTC)
replies: text: Many thanks. I've added  to the passage. Polly Tunnel (talk) 10:43, 16 February 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  Pointing out a statement without an attribution 

message: ===Extent Section===
Last paragraph: A major study into the sex industry in 2016 by the Home Affairs Select Committee found that Britain had approximately 70,000 prostitutes who earned an average of £2,000 a week. The research showed that sex workers in Britain charged an average of £78 for services and had around 25 clients per week. Around a quarter were street prostitutes, the rest working from brothels and massage parlours. Reasons for choosing to work in prostitution included homelessness and addiction to drugs. In addition, an increasing number of single parents were opting to work as prostitutes in order to provide for their families.
* It was an enquiry not a study. Study suggests academic research or similar.
* The figures quoted were from a submission of evidence to the committee rather than a finding of the commitee. Although the interim report appears to accept these figures it adds the caveat: The “facts” set out below have been submitted to the Committee in evidence but should be treated with caution and are open to dispute. See facts
* Perhaps the most important thing to come out of the enquiry (as far as 'extent' is concerned) : We recommend that the Home Office commissions an in-depth research study to help develop a better understanding of the current extent and nature of prostitution in England and Wales, and to draw together and put in context any recent relevant research. The research study should be conducted within the next 12-month period and there should be a report to Parliament by June 2017. It should aim to publish and explain reliable statistics which can be used to inform future legislative and policy decisions, and to discard any unreliable data. ( see section 6 )
===Decriminalisation Section===
Last paragraph: In May 2016 the Home Affairs Select Committee, headed by Keith Vaz, investigated prostitution laws in Britain. The committee called on Brooke Magnanti and Paris Lees to give evidence about sex work conditions in the UK. The pair suggested that the past criminal records of those arrested for prostitution-related crimes should be eliminated. The committee's interim report was published in July 2016. It recommended that prostitution and brothelkeeping should be decriminalised. It also recommended that past criminal records for prostitution should be removed, as suggested by Maganti and Lees. Sex worker nonprofits called the apparent U-turn decision "a stunning victory for sex workers and our demands for decriminalisation" and "a giant step forward for sex workers' rights in the UK.
* "It recommended that prostitution and brothelkeeping should be decriminalised". This is inaccurate. The recommendation was that soliciting should be decriminalised and that 'that brothel-keeping provisions allow sex workers to share premises, without losing the ability to prosecute those who use brothels to control or exploit sex workers.' (see section 10  )
===The "Nordic model" of prostitution Section===
Last paragraph: In January 2016 the Home Affairs Select Committee began an inquiry into prostitution legislation, particularly trying to assess "whether the balance in the burden of criminality should shift to those who pay for sex rather than those who sell it". The inquiry is also looking at the impact the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and whether measures are needed to help those involved in prostitution to leave it.
* "particularly trying to assess" This wording suggests the Nordic Model was a primary focus of the enquiry wheras it was one of a number of options to be looked at. Perhaps "including trying to assess" would be better.
* This section hasn't been updated since the Committee published it's interim report. 
* The committee's conclusion was (with regard to the Nordic Model):
**is based on the premise that prostitution is morally wrong and should therefore be illegal, whereas at present the law makes no such moral judgement.(see section 11  )
**makes no attempt to discriminate between prostitution which occurs between two consenting adults, and that which involves exploitation. Much of the rhetoric also denies sex workers the opportunity to speak for themselves and to make their own choices. (see section 11  )
** We are not yet convinced that the sex buyer law would be effective in reducing demand or in improving the lives of sex workers.  (see section 12  )
* The Committee felt is was too early to asses the effect of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. As the Modern Slavery Act isn't part of the Nordic Model this isn't the right place to include it (if indeed it needs inclusion)?
* Similarly prostitution exit help isn't appropriate to this section.
John B123 (talk) 14:57, 25 February 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Home Affairs Select Committee 

message: Last paragraph: In January 2016 the Home Affairs Select Committee began an inquiry into prostitution legislation, particularly trying to assess "whether the balance in the burden of criminality should shift to those who pay for sex rather than those who sell it". The inquiry is also looking at the impact the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and whether measures are needed to help those involved in prostitution to leave it.
* "particularly trying to assess" This wording suggests the Nordic Model was a primary focus of the enquiry wheras it was one of a number of options to be looked at. Perhaps "including trying to assess" would be better.
* This section hasn't been updated since the Committee published it's interim report. 
* The committee's conclusion was (with regard to the Nordic Model):
**is based on the premise that prostitution is morally wrong and should therefore be illegal, whereas at present the law makes no such moral judgement.(see section 11  )
**makes no attempt to discriminate between prostitution which occurs between two consenting adults, and that which involves exploitation. Much of the rhetoric also denies sex workers the opportunity to speak for themselves and to make their own choices. (see section 11  )
** We are not yet convinced that the sex buyer law would be effective in reducing demand or in improving the lives of sex workers.  (see section 12  )
* The Committee felt is was too early to asses the effect of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. As the Modern Slavery Act isn't part of the Nordic Model this isn't the right place to include it (if indeed it needs inclusion)?
* Similarly prostitution exit help isn't appropriate to this section.
John B123 (talk) 14:57, 25 February 2017 (UTC)
thread_title: The "Nordic model" of prostitution Section

message: Current Text: The debate about the legal situation of prostitution in the UK centres around whether the UK should follow the example of the Netherlands, Germany or New Zealand and tolerate prostitution, or whether the country should make it illegal to pay for sex, like in Sweden, Norway and Iceland (a situation sometimes described as the Nordic model of prostitution).
There are 3 main options for change not 2:
* Regulation (as in Germany & the Netherlands)
* Decriminalisation (as in New Zealand & parts of Australia)
* Sex Buyer Laws (Nordic Model)
As such the 'Decriminalisation' section should be split into two ('Regulation' & 'Decriminalisation')?
"tolerate prostitution" infers prostitution is wrong and therefore questions the neutrality of this paragraph.
John B123 (talk) 15:58, 25 February 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Reform of prostitution laws 

message: (End of Advertising section)
2015/16 session of parliament has ended and this Bill will make no further progress.
John B123 (talk) 16:27, 25 February 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:   Advertising of Prostitution (Prohibition) Bill 2015-16 

message: There is nothing in the History section before the 17th Century.
A few possible sources:
* brothel token discovered in Thames
* - England Regulates Prostitution
* 13, 1546 - England Ends Regulation
* History of Prostitution
* Women: Prostitution and Sexuality in Medieval England
* Society and Medieval Women
* City: thievery, prostitution and murder in medieval London
* Medieval Prostitute
* In The Middle Ages: 10 Titillating Facts You Wanted To Know But Were Afraid to Ask
* oldest profession: Prostitutes of medieval England
* Regulation of Brothels in Later Medieval England
WP Pages that may be useful
* Henry II
* Liberty of the Clink
* Silver Cross Tavern
John B123 (talk) 13:49, 26 February 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  History