There's been all this focus on increasing our already liberal gay rights laws (some of which I agree with anyway) and the drugs lobby are constantly prominent in pushing for legalisation with arguments that have gained some respectability.

But nothing like the same emphasis is given to what I consider to be the most ridiculous and invasive set of laws that are still actively pursued: sex trade laws.

Very little lefty outcry on that....Too busy doing hash to be bothered no doubt.

The implementation of these laws not only criminalises people who don't intend to harm others but it puts them at greater risk of physical harm, putting them onto the street instead of brothels that can be protected....And has the sheer ridiculous situation where the State sticks its nose into a sex act and evaluates whether it's valid or not because money changed hands.

It's not illegal for young women to pursue and marry rich old men.....That's practically the same thing.

Why do we still have these laws?

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

I agree with the sentiments, particularly for reasons like the probable lessening of sex attacks and the ability of people such as disabled people to be able to buy sex. However, there are obvious problems.
How exactly do you police prostitution so that the vulnerable are not exploited?
How do you make sure there is absolutely no sex-trafficking or under age girls forced into prostitution?
Whilst these are problems now, imagine the outcry if prostitution were legal and these kind of things popped up.
There would have to be quite a lot of thought about exactly how the overall system would work.

Even in places like Amsterdam and Germany where the sextrade is legal, there are still problems and debates, and that would perhpas be the place to start - how exactly has it worked in Holland? Whilst it seems like most are happy with the situation, I beleive that the influx of Eastern European prostitutes has caused a lot of problems. Not that I am any particular expert on the matter.

Another thing I would say is this - a bit like cannabis, it may be illegal but usually it is hardly the police's priority to arrest prostitutes or their customers. I would suspect that without being legal or decriminalised, that prostitutes openly advertise as legitimate 'escorts' and face little harrassment from law enforcement due to it.
I presume the problem is more street prostitution. I can remember seeing some sad looking girls around the docks in Hull for 15 quid a pop. I wouldn't indulge as I believed they looked like addicts - but plenty of others found that fine. That would be the kind of thing that would be barely acceptable, in my opinion.

Edited by ASCPFC (24 Oct 2015 12.47pm)

Red and Blue Army!

Is the reason it isn't legalised because there is a secret thrill for MP's that they may be caught and punished.

'Lies to the masses as are like fly's to mollasses...they want more and more and more'

I don't think it's ridiculous to have a go at the left for their priorities on this.

With a few notable exceptions they pay far more weight and emphasis upon the drug legalization issue than they do prostitution.

I will say that the left have done more good work on this than the right who I'm ashamed to say are mostly the problem behind these laws.

However, it's the left that keep this a minor issue. They are more interested in protecting weed growers than they are from reducing the chance that mostly young girls/women will suffer terrible abuse from any one of a number of different avenues.

Edited by Stirlingsays (24 Oct 2015 2.56pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

On a 3 month dry spell so give me the petition to sign!

Pride of South London
Upper Holmesdale Block P

Dont think prostitution is illegal - it is soliciting that is.

Yes, I am an agent of Satan but my duties are largely ceremonial