This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Local authorities receive £1m to tackle prostitution
28/02/2007
The Executive has announced £1 million to support local authorities and their partners in tackling kerb crawling and helping women find a route out of prostitution, it was announced today.
Deputy Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Business George Lyon was speaking ahead of the Stage 3 debate of the Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill in Parliament.
The Executive's funding boost comes on the back of the guidance already issued to local authorities and their community planning partners to help tackle issues around street prostitution, including:
- Challenging demand
- Preventing vulnerable individuals from becoming involved
- Reducing the harm experienced by those involved
- Assisting them to leave
- Protecting communities from the nuisance and disturbance associated with street prostitution
Mr Lyon said:
"The Executive has introduced a Bill that for the first time in Scotland will bring the full force of the law to bear in tackling those who create the demand for street prostitution - the kerb crawlers.
"It will send a clear and strong message to those who purchase sex on our streets that their behaviour will no longer be tolerated. And it will give the police new powers to tackle those who persist in doing so.
"However, as I have said before, legislation alone will not eliminate street prostitution. Central government, local government and community partners all have a role to play in changing attitudes and tackling the complex issues which perpetuate street prostitution.
"This is why we have issued guidance to local authorities and provided a £1 million boost in funding to help them and their partners to address street prostitution in their areas."
Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, Tom McCabe, said:
"If passed, this Bill will mean that Scotland will have the toughest legislation on kerb-crawlers in the UK.
"This is a key milestone in tackling street prostitution. It puts an end to the unfair and futile practice of only criminalising women for their involvement in prostitution.
"This legislation is a powerful signal to our communities that they now have more power with regard to kerb crawling. It sends a strong and unequivocal message to those who attempt to purchase sex on our streets that kerb crawling will no longer be tolerated in a modern Scotland."
"This new Bill will boost efforts to protect our communities and the extra £1 million will fund improvements in the health and social services directed towards those who are exploited through street prostitution."
Background:
Amendments introduced at Stage 2 included:
- increasing the maximum penalty available to the courts
- applying the offence to purchasers only
- removing the requirement for the behaviour to be likely to cause alarm, offence or nuisance in order for an offence to be committed
- strengthening the loitering offence
The £1 million comes from the Finance and Central Services Department budget. It is new money and details of its allocation to local authorities will be announced in the near future.