News In Focus
10 February 2010
MSPs call for end to prostitute disclosure requirement
The Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee has called for an end to the lifelong requirement for convicted former prostitutes to disclose their convictions if they apply for jobs working with children or vulnerable adults.
The committee was considering the issue as part of its examination of the Government’s response to their investigation into female offenders in the criminal justice system. Currently people found guilty of prostitution must disclose their former convictions, but people with other non-sexual offences are not required to do so after they become “spent”.
The committee’s convener, Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell, told members it was “a bit strange” that while funding and resources were going to helping women find routes out of prostitution, they then had to declare a conviction that could prevent them taking any other work.
The MSPs agreed unanimously that provided reservations about the wording of such an amendment could be overcome, they would put it as a committee amendment on the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill.
In correspondence, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill told the committee the Scottish Government had no intention of changing the current legislation governing the retention of criminal convictions for prostitution.