In the UK, with the exception of Northern Ireland, where buying sex is illegal, the law around prostitution is considered a grey area. Prostitution itself is not illegal but there are a number of offences linked to it. For example it is an offence to control a prostitute for gain, or to keep a brothel. Prostitution has a close affinity with a host of other important social issues, in particular crime, drugs, sexual equality, poverty and health.
There is a strong political debate on the legal framework surrounding prostitution in the UK. As with all matters of sexuality, prostitution continues to be debated on both social and moral levels. Opponents of prostitution and moral conservatives believe the practice is intrinsically morally corrupt and a challenge to family values, therefore regarding a ban to be justified in the name of public morality. Many religious groups adopt this position, adding another aspect to the debate. Opponents of prostitution also argue that because prostitutes have large numbers of sexual partners, they are more likely to have sexually transmitted infections and be vectors for spreading these infections β adding a public health dimension to the debate.
Modern slavery has risen up the political agenda in recent years. On the other side of the debate, there are others who are argue that prostitution is a matter of personal choice between consenting adults. Many who regard involvement in prostitution as a matter of private morality still argue for legal regulation. Some argue that licensed brothels would help to ensure worker safety, keep them off the streets, help prevent health problems, bring revenue to the Treasury and remove the need for exploitative and abusive pimps.
Currently there are a number of different legal frameworks in existence around the world in relation to prostitution. The three most cited are:. It aims to end the demand for, and thus eliminate, prostitution. Under the Nordic model, it is not illegal to sell sex, but it is illegal to buy it.
Critics of the approach argue that it fails to take account of the effects that the law has on the safety of sex workers, who are now driven to operate further underground. Legalisation The legalisation model is the one followed in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands. Prostitutes are classified as independent workers. They need to register, obtain a permit, and pay tax in order to work legally. Sex work is thus legalised, but regulated, with the aim of preventing exploitation, improving the conditions of sex workers, and reducing links with organised crime.
