New law to criminalise purchase of sex welcomed

New law seen as a major step for support workers and victims

Religious congregations working against human trafficking have welcomed the announcement that the Government intends to introduce a new bill criminalising the purchase of sex.

A spokesperson for APT (Act to Prevent Trafficking), which is made up of members of religious congregations and missionary societies, said the new law would be a major step “towards putting pimps and traffickers out of business and protecting adults and children across the country who are sexually exploited for profit every day”.

“Criminalising demand will greatly reduce the market for commercial sex, while decriminalising the seller of sex ensures that those in prostitution will not face prosecution for their own exploitation,” she said.

Ruhama, a group which supports women affected by prostitution and trafficking, also welcomed the publication of the heads of the Sexual Offences Bill.

Sarah Benson, Ruhama CEO, said the bill was a very positive step in “holding the sex buyers to account for their key role in fuelling organised crime and perpetrating abuse against victims of trafficking and exploitation”.