Edinburgh MSP Ash Regan welcomes Scottish Government support for criminalising purchase of sex
Edinburgh Eastern independent MSP Ash Regan has welcomed the Scottish Government’s declaration that it supports the principle of criminalising the purchase of sex, which she proposes in her member’s Bill at Holyrood.
Community safety minister Siobhian Brown set out the government’s position on Ms Regan’s Prostitution (Offences and Support) ( Scotland ) Bill when she appeared before the Scottish Parliament’s criminal justice committee.
She said: “I want to put on record, and this is the first time the Scottish Government has done so, that we strongly support the principle of legislating to criminalise purchases of sex. This position aligns with our Equally Safe strategy, which is that commercial sexual exploitation is a form of violence against women and girls.”
But she added there were "significant policy and operational challenges" with the current proposals and "substantial amendments" would be needed.
Ms Brown said concerns had already been raised that the legislation could effectively force prostitution underground. "I have heard genuine fear from women who are involved in prostitution at the moment that they will become more endangered.”
And she told the committee the government was currently taking a "neutral stance" towards the Bill.
Under Ms Regan’s proposals, those convicted of buying sex would face fines of up to £10,000 and possible jail time.
The existing offence of loitering, soliciting or importuning in a public place for the purposes of prostitution would be scrapped; those found guilty of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed; and those trying to leave prostitution would be given the right to support.
Ms Brown raised concerns about the cost of quashing past convictions and said the right to support was “not well defined" or fully costed.
And with the Scottish Parliament due to conclude business at the end of March ahead of the elections in May, she also voiced fears there might not be enough time left to develop the amendments needed.
Ms Regan said her top priority was now to work with the Scottish Government and other MSPs across all parties to produce a final Bill that would “command a majority of support across parliament”.
She said: “ I very much welcome the support of the Scottish Government to the principle of criminalising the purchase of sex in Scotland.
“Prostitution is a form of violence against women. That’s not just the opinion of supporters of my Bill, it is the view of Cosla, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, and that of the Scottish Government as reiterated today.
“The minister laid out the government’s commitment to tacking sexual exploitation, a position I believe is shared by a majority of members in the Scottish Parliament. I will work with the Scottish Government and MSPs across Parliament to ensure we can pass the stronger laws that the public agree are needed.”