'Change kerb crawling laws', says support group for Hull prostitutes
KERB crawlers are being targeted by a support group for prostitutes.
At present, those caught soliciting prostitutes can be arrested and bailed but then it has to be proved they coerced the woman into prostitution.
But Lucy Paxton, of the Lighthouse Project, based in Newland Avenue, west Hull, wants the UK to introduce the Swedish legislation known as the Kvinnofrid law, which recognises prostitution as violence against women.
This would mean kerb crawling or approaching prostitutes would be a crime in itself, with no need to prove coercion.
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Mrs Paxton said: "If someone is caught kerb crawling they can be arrested and bailed.
"But in order to get a conviction it has to be proved the woman was coerced into prostitution.
"This is the case usually for street prostitution but the law makes it very difficult to bring a conviction.
"The Swedish law criminalises the purchase full stop without any pre-requisites such as proving coercion.
"It is a moral stance of violence against women at a governmental level."
Her comments come after residents living off Hessle Road claimed prostitutes are working right outside their homes.
Frustration is growing that not enough is being done to tackle the number of sex workers plying their trade on the road's street corners.
The area close to Constable Street is a particular concern, with many residents deterred from going outside after dark.
Resident Julie Lambert told the Mail last week: "We have had this problem for ten years.
"There were four prostitutes down there just the other night. It is like Amsterdam.
"There are condoms all along the tenfoots.
"People are frightened to speak out but something has to be done.
"You can't stop prostitution but it shouldn't be allowed to go on in residential areas."
Mrs Paxton believes the problem is being addressed.
She said: "The women can get 'yellow carded' for soliciting.
"Two yellow cards in three months can lead to a conviction unless the woman engages with support agencies.
"The police in Hull have worked well over the past two years to build relationships and aid women linking with agencies to support them towards exiting street prostitution.
"There has been less presence on the streets for the past six months.
"But our figures for the first eight months still show we have had contact with 54 different women in the evening and an additional 30 during the day."
Mrs Paxton is keen to point out that the prostitutes are also the victims.
She said: "The women working on our streets suffer violence and coercion on a daily basis.
"About 98 per cent are on Class A drugs, caught in an inexorable cycle of poverty, abuse, exploitation, low self- esteem and despair.
"Choice is a word they cannot comprehend in this situation.
"We support women to gain stability, self-esteem and worth, empowering them on the arduous journey towards exiting prostitution."
Comments
by dannydarko222
Saturday, November 03 2012, 11:48PM
“Sadly we live in world where many men view woman as mere objects......
phwoar, that Lucy looks fit even with that rancid tank top...”
by punterpride
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 11:39PM
“what happens in private between consenting adults is no business of any moral supremacist, not the church not the state, its women who must decide their fate”
by bewildered1
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 1:36PM
“WykeTyke
"Registered charities should refain from Political Activity, Lighthouse is abusing its charity status."
Most charities engage in political activity it is ok as long as the activity is in line with the charitable aims, as seems to be the case here. See the Charity Commission website for clarification.
null
"Campaigning and political activity can be legitimate and valuable activities for charities to undertake.
Charities can campaign for a change in the law, policy or decisions (as detailed in this guidance in section C4) where such change would support the charity's purposes. Charities can also campaign to ensure that existing laws are observed."”
by EmmaB
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 12:04PM
“This whole article is based on on the false assumption that a kerbcrawler can only be convicted if it can be proved that the woman was coerced into prostitution.
This is wrong. The law says no such thing. Lucy Plaxton should have got her facts right before submitting her article to This is Hull and East Riding.”
by Anon_Geoff
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 9:04AM
“Personally... I don't think sex for money would be illegal if it wasn't for the drugs, abuse, treating women as slaves and violence that goes along with the trade.
We create our own problems when we force things into the dark. Any man who wants to have sex with a woman in such a desperate position needs help, or a conviction.”
by punterpride
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 11:49PM
“typical of moral supremacists to want to persecute, stigmatize and povertise women who choose sex work, if moral supremacist groups spent as much time and effort in fighting poverty as they do in preaching morality, there probably wouldn't be any prostitution”
by Barnard
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 11:13PM
“Sad to see all these comments on here from people who have no idea about the exploitation and violence suffered by women working on the streets. Does any teenager wake up one morning and decide to be a prostitute? You have no idea of the suffering, violence, pain and abuse that has led most of these women onto our streets. In every other country where prostitution has been legalised, tens of thousands more women have ended up being forced into prostitution. Criminal gangs target women, grooming them and getting them on drugs then on the streets. There has been an outcry at Jimmy Savile abusing young girls... but most of these girls on our streets were abused themselves as youngsters, and they have lost all sense of worth and value. Now all society wants to do is 'get rid of the problem'. These women need our support and help to find ways off the streets. A charity like Lighthouse is doing that difficult job, day after day, working to help women sort out drugs, housing, domestic violence, self-harm, depression, debt and all the other things that have trapped them in this life.”
by Silverado
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 8:41PM
“Ms. Plaxton shows a complete lack of knowledge of the criminal law relating to on-street prostitution.
Section 51A Sexual Offences Act 2003 already makes it a criminal offence for a person in a street or public place to solicit a prostitute for the purpose of obtaining sexual services. There is no requirement for coercion of any sort.
Despite what Ms.Plaxton states, the law doesn't make it "very difficult to bring a conviction". Lots of kerb-crawlers have been convicted in the magistrates courts since the legislation was introduced.”
by thejuggernaut
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 8:29PM
“get rid of the kerb crawlers and there would be no girls on the streets. hopefully problem solved.”
by 23041642
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 8:19PM
“Dave577
You buy a telly from someone you believe is stolen. That makes you the handler. Same as you solicit a prostitute for sex, even though what she is doing is illegal. In both circumstances the seller of the TV, or sex, commit an offence. You as the 'purchaser' make the free choice to buy the goods but know the risks of the legality of your actions.
Caveat emptor!”