LICENSED BROTHELS

Early day motion 373, tabled 7 November 2001 by Jane Griffiths (Labour). Signed by 9 members.

That this House welcomes the motion carried with a substantial majority at the annual general meeting of the Magistrates' Association stating that 'This AGM considers that current methods of regulating sex for money no longer have the support of the community and are thus ineffective and unenforceable, and urges the Government to initiate a wide ranging review'; is concerned about the evidence of the slave trade in women smuggled illegally into the United Kingdom and then forced into prostitution; notes the conclusion of the Police and Reducing Crime Report 'For Love or Money', that turning a blind eye to premises being used for commercial sex could lead to more women becoming sex slaves and that massage parlours and brothels should be licensed by councils to stop them being taken over by criminal gangs; and calls upon the Government to introduce licensed brothels and massage parlours as soon as possible, allowing the police to crack down on unlicensed operators and combat the street sex trade, frequently run by pimps who have criminal records.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, Liberal Democrat 2.