Prostitution – Historic Convictions

[naomi24]

//A group of women has gone to the High Court to fight for the right not to have to reveal to potential employers their past convictions for prostitution. They argue the law, which says they must disclose their convictions, discriminates against them as women and violates their human rights. All three claimants were convicted as teenagers but say they were trafficked by pimps and should now be free to live normal lives.//

I listened to a discussion on this tonight when it was suggested that such convictions should be treated in the same way as minor driving offences – eg points for speeding removed from the licence after a short period of time. Yes or no?

https://www.channel4.com/news/legal-battle-over-revealing-prostitution-convictions-to-employers

[youngmafbog]

Outdated law.

Legalise it, tax it, regulate it.

And yes quash the convictions for both men and women.

//Yes!! I agree it should be removed. After all it takes two to tango so why should these women be penalised?//

The men may well have been done too - kerb crawling etc?

[pixie374]

I think the convictions should be removed too. Although a conviction doesn't necessarily prevent employment, it means the employers are aware of it. Hopefully, most will use their common sense.

[hc4361]

Legalising and taxing prostitution won't stop ungoverned prostitution - it hasn't in countries where legalised brothels and red light areas operate.

We have the ridiculous situation where children have been prosecuted for soliciting - their records should definitely be wiped clean.

I agree with treating soliciting in the same way as minor driving offences, but pimps and traffickers should get tough sentences that stay on their criminal records.

[youngmafbog]

//Legalising and taxing prostitution won't stop ungoverned prostitution //

Correct, but it will free up the Police to chase down the illegal cat houses most of which will be run for real perverts such as child molesters and illegals.

Legalising it along with harsh penalties for those using illegal dens of inequity would drive the price down making illegal ones very difficult to operate under normal business.

[ummmm]

I can't speak for all prostitutes, obviously, but the ones I've met throughout the years have all had addiction issues. If they've sorted themselves out and the only crime they've committed is prostitution it should be wiped clean. No one needs to know about it. They sold their body instead of robbing a granny.

[hc4361]

So you want men and women to sell their bodies more cheaply? If they are paying tax and NI they will want to increase their fees. Some prostitutes are already complaining the competition from Eastern Europeans has driven the cost down.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpools-sex-workers-selling-sex-13821059

[youngmafbog]

HC, the ladies would no longer be paying their pimp, which reports seem to indicate are 50% or more I seem to recall.

So no, in a legal situation they would get more.

[hereIam]

Yes.