Monday, 30 January 2006
Copeland: time to hit prostitutes' clients
United Future MP Gordon Copeland wants to know when the police will start prosecuting those who buy the services of
under-age prostitutes.
He was responding to news that a Christchurch Police swoops have netted several young prostitutes, including a
twelve-year-old, from the city streets.
"One of the key planks of the Prostitution Reform Act was to criminalise "the use for prostitution" of persons under
eighteen years.
"The sponsor of the Bill, Labour MP, Tim Barnett, and others who supported the passage of the Bill, were strong in
their denunciation of people who use under eighteen-year-olds for sexual gratification, and that prosecution under the
Act would be taken.
"After all, all the clients of under-age sex workers have clearly broken the law, but as far as I'm aware, no one has
yet been prosecuted.
"Have the police simply turned a blind eye? If so, it must stop.
"This is yet another reason why the Prostitution Law Review, as per the confidence and supply agreement between Labour
and United Future, needs to happen sooner rather than later," said Mr Copeland.
ENDS