women in london

From 1 April 2010 it will be illegal to buy sex from a person who is exploited.

To mark this historic occasion and to raise awareness of the new law, the Demand Change! campaign held an awareness-raising stunt in central London today.

Campaigners from women’s and human rights organisations were joined by the Deputy London Mayor for Policing Kit Malthouse to raise awareness of the new laws on prostitution to be implemented on 1 April.

Leaflets in the style of a Court Summons were handed out at various locations to warn potential punters that if they pay for sex from 1 April they risk a criminal record, a court summons, a letter through their door, a fine and/or their name in the paper.

The stunt represented an ‘awareness raising tour’ highlighting that punters come from all walks of life and that this legislation is targeted at the buyer – shifting the criminal gaze away from those exploited in prostitution onto to those who pay for sex.

Campaigners carried 6ft cardboard cut outs of figures of men, with the message of the law written across them, to draw attention to the empowered buyer who often remains in the shadows – despite his role in fuelling exploitation.

When: 12 – 2pm Wednesday 31 March 2010

Where: At various locations in central London including the spot on Oxford Street where a woman was sold into sexual slavery in broad daylight; outside Tottenham Court Road station – the gateway to notorious Soho; and a spot in the City, outside Liverpool Street Station, to reach business men.

A group also disseminated fliers outside the Arsenal v Barcelona football match in the evening from 6–7pm.

Who: The Demand Change! Campaign led by OBJECT and Eaves along with other supportive organisations and the Deputy Mayor of Policing Kit Malthouse.

Comments from Eaves chief executive Denise Marshall

“Legislation to make it an offence to pay for sex with someone subject to force, who has been exploited, is a no-brainer. It should clearly be illegal. I am delighted to see the Policing and Crime Act come into law, on behalf of the women whom we support, who have a right to live without fear of force, violence or exploitation, and for whom this law is crucial. The vital next step in the process is for those exploited in prostitution to be fully decriminalised and provided with high quality support to exit the sex industry safely, and the Demand Change! campaign spearheaded by Eaves and OBJECT will continue to press for this.”

Comments from OBJECT’s Anna van Heeswijk, Demand Change! coordinator

“Section 14 of the Policing and Crime Act brings the buyer out of the shadows and puts the rights of vulnerable women, children and men to live free from exploitation above the right of punters to buy sex. This new law is a major step forward for all those who have been exploited in the sex industry and it is also a victory for all those who have joined the campaign to end commercial sexual exploitation by tackling demand. We are delighted that Parliament listened to our cries to ‘vote for women, not pimps and punters!’ and that the new law will come into force tomorrow.”

Comments from Kit Malthouse, London Deputy Mayor for Policing

“After many years of lobbying, the government has finally responded by making it illegal to pay for sex with someone who has been forced into prostitution. Ignorance will no longer be a defence for any man blinkered enough to think that the vast majority of women who do this work either enjoy it or freely choose such a violent brutal life. In London, through his violence against women strategy the Mayor is already taking a lead on trafficking ahead of the 2012 Olympics, ending the use of prostitute cards in telephone boxes and has called for local newspapers to refuse sex adverts. Today’s change in the law may not be perfect but it does have the potential to help the police tackle the demand for prostitution. But to really work we also have to start to look at our collective attitude to the sex trade in London which all too often is glamorised and made acceptable, benefiting only the ruthless criminal gangs who stand behind it”

Comments from Alan Campbell, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime Reduction

“I want to thank all the organisations including Eaves Housing and OBJECT which came together to support the government in introducing this new strict liability offence. The new offence is a key part of the government’s efforts to tackle the demand for prostitution. It will be a deterrent to men who may consider paying for sex with someone who has been exploited and will punish those who do. Crucially it will help to protect vulnerable people who have been exploited into prostitution.”