There is a proposal for a Bill to create an offence of paying for sexual services; to repeal the offence of soliciting or importuning by prostitutes; to repeal previous convictions for soliciting or importuning by prostitutes; and to support those in or exiting prostitution.
The purpose of the Bill is to reduce the amount of prostitution in Scotland due to the evidence of exploitation and harm it is causing. The Bill would aim to reduce the demand for prostitution and provide an environment that will help people to exit prostitution.
It would introduce a new criminal offence of paying for sexual services; repeal the offence of soliciting for the purposes of prostitution in a public place; repeal previous convictions for soliciting; and give people who sell sexual acts or exchange sexual acts the statutory right to support while they are involved in prostitution – and to exit prostitution.
The purpose of this consultation is to provide a range of views on the subject matter of the proposed Bill: highlighting potential problems, suggesting improvements, and generally refining and developing the policy.
How To Take Part
To respond please download this pdf document, fill in the questions, and e-mail the document to ash.regan.msp@parliament.scot
Additional hard copies of this paper can be requested by contacting:
Ash Regan MSP, M3.01a The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP – or e-mailing ash.regan.msp@parliament.scot. Enquiries about obtaining the consultation document in any language other than English or in alternative formats should also be sent to this e-mail address.
An online copy is available on the Scottish Parliament’s website under Bills and Laws/Proposals for Bills.
The closing date for responses is Thursday 12 September 2024.
