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MEDIA RELEASE
24 June 2003

Paroled Rapists And Prostitution Reform

Recently paroled rapist Michael John Carroll, described by prison staff as “one of New Zealand’s most dangerous men”, has spent “well into five figures” using prostitutes at a Wellington massage parlour. Living in a military fantasy world, he has been turning up to buy sex in full military outfits, telling “sex workers” he would soon be going to Iraq (Dominion-Post, 24 June).

Society spokesperson David Lane says: “If Parliament passes the Prostitution Reform Bill on Wednesday during its third reading, it will send a strong message to all adults 18 years and over, including paroled rapists, some like Carroll who have been diagnosed with severe personality disorders, that they can legitimately use prostitutes and that prostitution is an acceptable part of the service industry. The “rights” of adults, including paroled rapists, to use prostitutes, will then be placed on the same level as their rights to buy a pizza. One wonders if parole boards would dare put restrictions on released rapists preventing them from buying pizzas. How will they possibly be able to restrain them any more from visiting ‘legitimate’ “sex industry services” like brothels, if the Bill is passed into law?” he asks.

Lane says, “The passage of this Bill into law will in effect give parliament’s approval to the actions of pimps securing “sex workers” to ‘service’ paroled rapists, brothel operators directing known paroled murders and brutal rapists (clients) to be serviced by their “workers”, some of whom may be as young as 18 years of age. A brothel owner will be under no legal obligation to inform his/her “workers” of the criminal background of the client and yet the owner/operator will not even hold a license to run the business if they have serious criminal convictions.”

Carroll, a five-time rapist and described by one of his former lawyers as “perhaps New Zealand’s most dangerous predator” and a man with the ability to manipulate people, received a substantial compensation payout as a former Lake Alice patient. He was freed from prison this year into a Pukerua Bay neighbourhod and has been living within 200 metres of a primary school. He has been visiting a Wellington massage parlour up to five times a week, using the name Mike. Often, he would book two or more prostitutes at a time. He told some staff he had served time for murder and yet prostitutes were still prepared to service his sexual needs. Staff allowed him to become a self-appointed minder at the club. He regularly drank at the club and was described by the parlour manager as “one of the best clients we had”.

A former staff member has expressed grave fears about the real threat Carroll poses to the community once his money runs out “If he’s run out of money and he’s been used to doing what he has been, then things could get dangerous,” she said.

“One could facetiously suggest,” says Lane, “that all Cabinet members who, with the exception of Jim Anderton, have so far supported the Prostitution Reform Bill, should introduce legislation to create a special paroled rapist’s fund to enable them to continue to use the services of prostitutes when their money runs out. Using politically correct mentality this could be viewed and defended as a purely pragmatic move, sending no moral message to the community, but rather aimed only at reducing the potential for harm should rapists seek to relieve their urges by attacking women in the community.”

“By helping to confine paroled rapist’s activities to brothels the government can be assured of a tax-take return. Women who are the victims of a rape attack do not charge for their ‘services’ and the government receives no tax benefit from such activities. If brothels are to be viewed as creating legitimate “caring buffer-zones” allowing paroled rapists the chance to get needful sexual relief, then why should the government not fund or subsidise rapists to keep their activities confined to ‘legitimate’ business transactions”, Lane asks (tongue in cheek).

“The absurd pretence and the lunacy of the politically correct who argue that prostitution is and should be treated like any other service industry, may all too readily be translated into a reality which this country may come to bitterly rue. The money-spinning nature of this “sex industry” has been highlighted recently by an Australian brothel chain getting a listing on an Australian stock exchange. With moves to rebrand the New Zealand Stock Exchange as “NZX” (the same name as a hardcore porn magazine marketed by New Zealander Steve Crow), the effective legalising of prostitution may well lead to similar listings of brothel operations in New Zealand,” says Lane.

ENDS

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