Prostitute attacks soar as new laws force women off streets

THE number of reported attacks on prostitutes in Edinburgh has soared, despite new laws meaning fewer are walking the streets.

Support workers say making kerb-crawling illegal has resulted in the trade becoming more dangerous as prostitutes are forced "underground".

Attacks reported to support group Scotpep have almost doubled from 66 in 2006 to 126 last year, including eight reported rapes and 55 violent assaults.

While the figures cover the whole of last year, Scotpep says it has become even more dangerous for vice-girls since the new law came into force last October.

It comes as latest police figures reveal that a total of 24 suspected kerb-crawlers have been arrested and charged in the Capital in the first six months since the legislation came into force.

Some prostitutes are said to have turned to handing out a mobile number to potential clients in order to set up illicit meetings.

Scotpep believes this new tactic has left women more vulnerable as they are meeting men in more isolated locations.

Ruth Morgan Thomas, Scotpep's co-ordinator, said: "The need for cash to support drug habits has not gone away. Prostitution is being pushed further underground. Women are having to work longer hours and changing the times they work. It makes it harder for us to provide support."

Kerb-crawlers can now face a criminal record and a £1000 fine.

High-profile police activity has been cited for driving away many men. But those most likely to be violent against prostitutes continue to use their services. Ms Morgan Thomas added: "There's been a decrease in those on the street, but not the number selling sex in the city.

"Some are using mobile phones to arrange meetings, so we haven't seen them. Some men are regulars, but women are being put at greater risk if they are meeting men in isolated places.

"The proportion of customers who are potentially violent is higher as they don't fear being charged, unlike some clients."

A total of 41 streetwalkers used Scotpep between last October and December, a fall on the 48 seen between July and September.

Most of the pool of streetwalkers work only one or two nights a week. Many are now working later at night in a bid to avoid antagonising residents who may call the police.

Other former street workers have turned to working in private flats or advertising online. Many of the attacks are never officially reported to the police. A police spokeswoman said today: "The force is committed to tackling prostitution, while at the same time helping people find routes out of prostitution."

Rob Kirkwood, of the Leith Residents' Association, said streets in the area were previously "bumper to bumper" with cars, but clients were now staying away.

SWEDEN NOT THE BEST COMPARISON
SCOTLAND has often been urged to follow the Swedish model of dealing with prostitution.

In 1999, the Swedish government brought in legislation to criminalise the buying of sex, while decriminalising its sale. The idea behind the move was that prostitution should be regarded as an aspect of male violence against women, and therefore tackled.

The country has also introduced a comprehensive outreach programme to help the women into education and new jobs.

According to Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare, street prostitution disappeared "rapidly" after the law was introduced. But the board's surveys in 2004 and last year found that it was slowly on its way back.

The Swedish example is also difficult to measure against the UK because of the gulf in size of the respective sex industries.

There are only an estimated 800 prostitutes working in Sweden, against between 800 and 1000 in Edinburgh alone. The Government is also circumspect about whether it would work in the UK, as Swedish prostitutes do not have the same high rates of drug addiction as Britain.