Government prostitution inquiry imminent: deadline 18th Feb

[Warwick]

I'm curious as to how it may effect online advertising and forums, does AW still operate in the Countries who have already introduced such Laws, if I was unlucky enough to be arrested would the Police seize my phone and computer and could the things I've written on forums be used as evidence against me. This forum was created to support a commercial venture but they allow us to discuss wider issues ........ thank you, but I can't see that continuing if the Law is changed as we'd then be talking about an illegal activity and it would be perfectly understandable if we were no longer welcome.

When I last looked there were five AW profiles in Norway and none in Sweden.

You'd have to ask people who live in those countries, but I have read that in practice the police do confiscate phones and computers. Not just from the men but the girls too. Citing collection of "evidence" as the reason. They also prosecute landlords and hotels for facilitating illegal activity. They also lean very heavily on girls who refuse to give evidence against their clients, by way of making them homeless after threatening landlords. I read that in Norway they actually carried out "operation homeless" last year which resulted in a couple of hundred girls being evicted out on to the street.

[Warwick]

I have just thought of another side to this...

Proceeds of crime

Most of these discussions have always talked about the problems that punters would have with the police, but what about the girls? Although they have not done anything wrong, the money they have received could be considered as "proceeds of crime", as it would be illegal for the man to be paying for sex.

Sarah x x x

Good point.

It might turn the clock back to the sort of raids that made Cynthia Payne famous.

Only of course now they would plant CCTV cameras everywhere, which would make it even more dramatic.

They could make a TV series out of it like they already do on the roads. (what a horrible thought, but I wouldn't put it past them)

[sarahxxx]

I read that in Norway they actually carried out "operation homeless" last year which resulted in a couple of hundred girls being evicted out on to the street.

And all in the name of protecting us and saving us from the bad men of the world....

Sarah x x x

[Nova70]

I'm curious as to how it may effect online advertising and forums, does AW still operate in the Countries who have already introduced such Laws, if I was unlucky enough to be arrested would the Police seize my phone and computer and could the things I've written on forums be used as evidence against me. This forum was created to support a commercial venture but they allow us to discuss wider issues ........ thank you, but I can't see that continuing if the Law is changed as we'd then be talking about an illegal activity and it would be perfectly understandable if we were no longer welcome.

When I last looked there were five AW profiles in Norway and none in Sweden.

You'd have to ask people who live in those countries, but I have read that in practice the police do confiscate phones and computers. Not just from the men but the girls too. Citing collection of "evidence" as the reason. They also prosecute landlords and hotels for facilitating illegal activity. They also lean very heavily on girls who refuse to give evidence against their clients, by way of making them homeless after threatening landlords. I read that in Norway they actually carried out "operation homeless" last year which resulted in a couple of hundred girls being evicted out on to the street.

Thank you Warwick, I've now looked for myself and yes your right the Escort section in the Countries where the "Nordic model" has been adopted is not of any real use for punters, the question is of course how it would effect AW in the UK if this Country also makes paying for sex illegal, I've no doubt that those who want the Law introduced would also like to see curbs on advertising and as AW is the largest and best known website advertising such services they will come under pressure.

At the moment I'm very open in my contacts with SPs on AW clearly stating what services I'm looking for etc so would I be foolish to continue doing that given some of the other things you've said ?, I suppose we could see a return to the use of silly euphemisms ....... I hope not, AW is my main resource as a punter I really don't want to become nervous about using it.

[Likes-Big-Girls]

The above is exactly the kind of thing which should be submitted to the enquiry, as evidence of what happens when that POS "Nordic Model" is implemented. Do the members of that enquiry really want to kick all SWs (sex workers, of any variety) out of their homes and onto the streets? And probably onto the dole as well?

Better to legalise it all, make sure the SWs are working in safe environments, paying their taxes and thereby benefitting everyone, and while they're at it get rid of some of the arcane laws covering what is and is not a Brothel (2 or more SWs under 1 roof), and no doubt other laws too, thus clarifying the whole situation for everyone involved.

Not everyone in the industry (and it IS an industry no matter how the nay-sayers try to dispute it) is trafficked or forced into it. Some are, that much is clear, and they should be helped to exit, but in that regard it's little different to the relatively recent cases of migrant crop-pickers being forced to live in unsanitary conditions and to work until they drop (or almost). Same problem (albeit in a different industry) so how come the current laws work for one set of people but not the other? The industry should not matter - SWs are people too and as such should be afforded the same rights as everyone else.

[Warwick]

I read that in Norway they actually carried out "operation homeless" last year which resulted in a couple of hundred girls being evicted out on to the street.

And all in the name of protecting us and saving us from the bad men of the world....

Sarah x x x

Thus demonstrating that protection of vulnerable women is not the real purpose. That is just an excuse in a world of political correctness - and deception.

[Warwick]

Thank you Warwick, I've now looked for myself and yes your right the Escort section in the Countries where the "Nordic model" has been adopted is not of any real use for punters, the question is of course how it would effect AW in the UK if this Country also makes paying for sex illegal, I've no doubt that those who want the Law introduced would also like to see curbs on advertising and as AW is the largest and best known website advertising such services they will come under pressure.

The idea that the Nordic model could be introduced and yet a web site with upwards of ten thousand sellers of something that is a criminal act to buy seems crazy. But that's what is happening elsewhere. I can't see it not changing were that to happen though, it just sticks out too much and there would be a lot of agitation. There is forthcoming legislation in process regarding what ISP's are allowed to do/permit through their channels and it may be in the pipeline that we face censorship along the lines of preventing access to websites that are criminal in nature.

Many people express the view that this couldn't be policed because the police service is overstretched. But I don't subscribe to that. Simply because the police service is in the business of policing, and since they are being run in recent years along business lines with targets etc then more crime is good for them. Without crime they wouldn't have much to do, so introducing new crimes that are less risky to investigate than say armed robbery helps keep them occupied and justifies more resources being allocated in their direction. Certainly they are under resourced, because they have to argue for funding just like everyone else, but I don't think there is any way they'd ignore it. I can tell you from personal knowledge that many police officers relish going after punters. They are soft targets and it's one of the more fun aspects of the job for them.

[Nova70]

The above is exactly the kind of thing which should be submitted to the enquiry, as evidence of what happens when that POS "Nordic Model" is implemented. Do the members of that enquiry really want to kick all SWs (sex workers, of any variety) out of their homes and onto the streets? And probably onto the dole as well?

Better to legalise it all, make sure the SWs are working in safe environments, paying their taxes and thereby benefitting everyone, and while they're at it get rid of some of the arcane laws covering what is and is not a Brothel (2 or more SWs under 1 roof), and no doubt other laws too, thus clarifying the whole situation for everyone involved.

Not everyone in the industry (and it IS an industry no matter how the nay-sayers try to dispute it) is trafficked or forced into it. Some are, that much is clear, and they should be helped to exit, but in that regard it's little different to the relatively recent cases of migrant crop-pickers being forced to live in unsanitary conditions and to work until they drop (or almost). Same problem (albeit in a different industry) so how come the current laws work for one set of people but not the other? The industry should not matter - SWs are people too and as such should be afforded the same rights as everyone else.

Excellent post LBG and I couldn't agree more but sadly I think we can say with some certainty that establishing a properly run and policed sex industry will not be on the committee's agenda.

[Nova70]

Thank you Warwick, I've now looked for myself and yes your right the Escort section in the Countries where the "Nordic model" has been adopted is not of any real use for punters, the question is of course how it would effect AW in the UK if this Country also makes paying for sex illegal, I've no doubt that those who want the Law introduced would also like to see curbs on advertising and as AW is the largest and best known website advertising such services they will come under pressure.

The idea that the Nordic model could be introduced and yet a web site with upwards of ten thousand sellers of something that is a criminal act to buy seems crazy. But that's what is happening elsewhere. I can't see it not changing were that to happen though, it just sticks out too much and there would be a lot of agitation. There is forthcoming legislation in process regarding what ISP's are allowed to do/permit through their channels and it may be in the pipeline that we face censorship along the lines of preventing access to websites that are criminal in nature.

I think your right, AW is itself the target of a banning campaign anyway and I can't see those who are proposing criminalising paying for sex simply turning a blind eye to it so the site may have to change if only to protect the profits it makes from the virtual services it sells.

"Operation Homeless" I can't believe they called it that, perhaps something got lost in translation, anyway I took a look and it really does seem to undermine the notion that the "Nordic model" doesn't victimise the SP, If like me you hadn't heard of this before well it's a tactic used by the Norwegian Police, they issue blunt warnings to those providing prostitutes with a place to work, landlords and even hotel owners are told that they will be regarded as Pimps and prosecuted unless they evict the wg.

[Nova70]

A short but informative article from around two years ago in which two women with opposing views on the matter state their case, the article also offers some insight as to how and why this legislation is once again being considered in this Country.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...ostitution