Reforms won't lead to fewer prostitutes, MSP warns

Margo MacDonald criticises proposed vice law changes

News, 4 October 2006

The independent MSP Margo MacDonald has warned that changing the laws on prostitution will not necessarily mean a fall in the number of women working the streets.

Ms MacDonald's warning came as Holyrood's Local Government and Transport Committee considered the Scottish Executive's proposals to change the law so that those paying for sex as well as those selling it can be prosecuted, on the basis of nuisance, alarm and offence caused.

Speaking about the proposed reforms, Ms MacDonald said she did not think there would be an immediate change in the number of prostitutes on the streets. She also believed that the Executive should have brought in a system based on the number of complaints, rather than the alarm and nuisance allegedly caused by prostitution.

This, she said, would encourage women to work in more discreet areas and cause less disruption for communities. She has previously campaigned for prostitution tolerance zones to be established.