Poll shows the public want a loosening of restrictions on prostitution
A opinion poll released today shows that three in five people would support a change in the law. It is currently legal for a person to work as a prostitute in the UK provided that they work from premises and that they work alone. It has been suggested on the grounds of safety and security of the individual the law should be changed to allow more than one person to work as a prostitute at the same address.
The question said
Regardless of your opinion of prostitution do you think on the grounds of safety and the security of the individual it would be a good idea or a bad idea to allow more than one person to work as a prostitute at the same address?
A total of 955 people responded to the question. A total of 60.0% said it was a good idea, 20.8% said it was a bad idea. Furthermore 10.5% said they did not believe in prostitution and 8.6% said that they did not know. The survey was carried out by GFK/NOP at the request of Professor Colin Francome of the Campaign for Social Change. Interviewing took place on the 1st and 2nd of November.
A committee of the House of Lords is due to vote on the issue today. Cari Mitchell of the English
Collective of Prostitutes comments ‘This confirms what we have been saying for some time that the public is moving towards a decriminalisation of prostitution which will help protect women. The Bill before Parliament is leading to an increase in police raids towards sex workers both in the streets and in premises’.
Other findings from the survey were
- People in Scotland were those most in favour of the change with two thirds in support. Those from Ireland were the least in support (52%)
- The three higher class groups AB, C1 and C2 were all over 60% in support. For Des it was 55%.
- There was little difference between the sexes but married people (63.5%) were more in support than average.
Contact Professor Colin Francome on 07787513808 or 0208-205-6110
E mail Francome44@ hotmail.co.uk