24 January 2008

Labours Prostitution Laws = Underage Prostitution

The Family Party says predictions that street and underage prostitution would escalate after the Prostitution Law Reform Bill passed into law have proven to be correct.

The claim comes in light of a South Auckland Police operation that has revealed concerning levels of underage prostitution. Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Pizzini, officer in charge of Counties Manukau child abuse team, said 25 people were arrested this month in Operation Capio, which focused on under-aged prostitution in South Auckland.

Mr Pizzini said that some girls as young as 13 and 14 were removed from the streets to places of safety during the operation only to be caught again in the same circumstances later in the operation. He also emphasised that other anti-social and criminal activities such as street violence and drug dealing were closely linked.

"It was strongly argued that legalising prostitution would normalise the activity and send a clear message to children and young people that prostitution is okay. Despite this, Labour forced the law through against strong public opposition and without regard for the impact it would have on children, their families and our communities," says Family Party leader, Richard Lewis.

A former South Auckland Sergeant, Mr Lewis says young people involved in prostitution often emerged from detrimental and broken home environments, making them vulnerable to prostitution and crime. But Labour sealed their fate by sending a clear message that prostitution was okay.

"It's a timely reminder to South Auckland families this election year of the kind of anti-family Labour Party policies our communities have to live with. The law might have pleased a few pimps, prostitutes and Labour Party MP's, but today it is deeply hurting South Auckland children, their families and our communities," he added.

ENDS

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