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JD/JM
Jim Dickie
01698332027
01698332095
dickiej@northlan.gov.uk
5 April 2005
Social Work
Ronnie Fraser
Criminal Justice Division
Scottish Executive
1WR
St Andrew's House
Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Jim Dickie, Director
Scott House, 73-77 Merry Street
Motherwell ML 1 1JE
www.northlan.gov.uk
Dear Mr Fraser
BEING OUTSIDE: CONSTRUCTING A RESPONSE TO STREET PROSTITUTION
EXPERT GROUP ON PROSTITUTION IN SCOTLAND
REPORT OF THE
Further to our telephone conversation last week regarding the above it was agreed that the consultation
period would be extended. As promised please find attached response for your consideration.
If you require further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Jim Dickie
Director of Social Work
Enc.
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NORTH LANARKSHIRE
COUNCIL
SOCIAL WORK
BEING OUTSIDE: CONSTRUCTING A RESPONSE TO STREET PROSTITUTION
EXPERT GROUP ON PROSTITUTION IN SCOTLAND
REPORT OF THE
RESPONSE FORM
Managing the Process of Responding to Street Prostitution (Chapter 6)
The proposal for establishment of a National Strategy is welcomed, since although the problems have a
clear local dimension, they also have a national dimension, and action at anyone level has system
implications.
The report helpfully sets out the case for a National Strategic Framework, describes its elements, the
process for setting its objectives, and their implementation. A National Forum to oversee the Strategic
Framework is an essential component in ensuring that the problems are addressed in a coherent and
co-ordinated way.
Problems of street prostitution, while almost wholly a phenomenon associated with the four main cites,
have implications for other areas from which street prostitutes are drawn, and where many of the social
and personal issues associated with street prostitution are located. The problem is truly national, and
must be address as such. The assertion that social policy, operational service delivery and the criminal
law should work harmoniously in this area is welcomed.
Preventing Involvement in Prostitution (Chapter 7)
The factors which precipitate involvement in street prostitution are widely recognised, and exist in every
deprived community in Scotland. Addictions, poverty, family breakdown and poor self-esteem are
aspects of the social exclusion which often underpins and facilitates the drift into prostitution.
The target populations for preventative work require creative, consistent, and persistent approaches,
which will be required to supplement mainstream services. The vulnerable groups and individuals are
already targets in children's services, addiction services and community care services at a local level
and this specific:work should be made more explicit in their implementation.
Exiting Prostitution (Chapter 10)
Exiting from street prostitution is an important outcome of the co-ordinated approach set out in the
National Strategic Framework. Decisions to move on will only be achieved where there is confidence
that new life opportunities and related support can sustain the individual beyond prostitution.
Support services need to be co-ordinated, accessible, and meaningful to individual women. Their
deployment at the localities where street prostitution is operating seems likely to be an essential
requirement, but options for accessing help to exit prostitution need also to be available away from the
scene, as it were.
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Justice Issues (Chapter 11)
Adoption of punitive approaches does not seem to be an effective or positive intervention. It seems
more likely to cause the problem behaviour to reconfigure and relocate eg flat based prostitution, which
may be more discreet, but is equally likely to sustain addiction, abuse, and problems of exploitation.
The question of public nuisance remains difficult, but it is clear that there is an apparent inequity in how
the law is framed and applied to the behaviour of street prostitutes on the one hand, and their clients on
the other. There is great concern that the current approach by Courts can lead to up-tariffing for women,
leading to an acceleration along the path into custodial settings. It is helpful to consider options for
dealing with street prostitution which introduce a more balanced approach to the public nuisance
behaviour of both prostitutes and their clients, clarity as to the problem behaviour being addressed, and
preclude imprisonment as a disposal.
Sharing Responses I Future Engagement
North Lanarkshire Council Social Work Department would be happy for further contact to be made in
relation to this consultation paper.
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