New ACPO guidelines prostitution
The first national guidelines aimed at tackling the growing numbers of street prostitutes and brothels have been issued by ACPO.
Dr Tim Brain, ACPO lead on prostitution and Chief Constable of Gloucestershire launched the new policy at the Local Government Association conference in London this month.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Brain said: “Policing prostitution has been a neglected area of not only policing priority but also public priority.
“The status quo is not an option, with the numbers of street prostitutes rising as a result of drug addiction, and the number of off-street brothels, fronting as massage parlours or saunas, is also increasing.
“Trafficking of women into the country from other parts of the world is growing, as is its links with organised crime. It all represents misery and exploitation of too many women. Policing and public policy require refocusing to tackle the problem.”
The new guidance Strategy and Operational Guidelines for dealing with exploitation and abuse through prostitution will recommend a partnership approach that will protect communities, help women to escape prostitution and prosecute those that coerce them into the sex trade.
n Dr Tim Brain on Prostitution, Society and the Law;
the way forward? P8-9