Tag: prostitution

Independent Commission on the Criminalisation of the Purchase of Sex

Fiona Taylor appointed as Chair

Former Deputy Chief Constable of Police Scotland Fiona Taylor has been appointed to lead an independent Commission which will consider how to safely and effectively criminalise the purchase of sex in Scotland.

The Commission, whose work will be informed by the views and experiences of those who have been involved in prostitution, will provide recommendations to Ministers including on:

  • the framing of a new criminal offence for purchasing sex that can be effectively enforced and prosecuted
  • how to manage any risk to the safety of those involved in prostitution after any new offence is introduced
  • how to best provide practical, sustainable support for those who wish to exit prostitution
  • further work to challenge and deter men’s demand for prostitution.

Ministers committed to establishing a Commission following a recommendation by the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee in their Stage 1 Report on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill.

Ministers will work with Ms Taylor to finalise the Commission’s terms of reference and a panel of experts will be appointed to support her in due course. The Commission will report to Ministers within a year of its first meeting.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I am clear that prostitution is violence against women and girls and the purchase of sex should be criminalised.

“That is why we are following the Criminal Justice Committee’s recommendation to establish a Commission to consider how this can be done in an effective, enforceable way while addressing concerns raised that criminalisation could place women at higher risk of violence.

“Women also need to be able to access practical, sustainable support to help them exit prostitution and this will be another strand of the Commission’s work, along with what more can be done to challenge and deter men’s demand for buying sex.

“I am very pleased that Fiona Taylor has been appointed as Chair. Fiona brings significant experience to the issues and challenges involved in this important area of work, having had a distinguished career including serving as Deputy Chief Constable and Interim Chief Constable of Police Scotland. Fiona, like the Scottish Government, also recognises the value and importance of lived experience, which will be at the heart of this work.”

Fiona Taylor said: “I am grateful to have been offered the opportunity to chair the independent Commission tasked with progressing this important matter. 

“I look forward to working with other members of the Commission, once appointed, and reporting back to Ministers in due course.’  

Responding to the announcement, Ash Regan MSP said: “If the government wanted to criminalise the purchase of sex they should’ve voted FOR my #Unbuyable bill last month.

“A commission isn’t action – it’s inaction. Yet again survivors are being let down.”

Holyrood Committee calls for views on new Bill which would make it a criminal offence to pay for sex

The Criminal Justice Committee is seeking views on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill, introduced by Ash Regan MSP, targets those who buy sexual services by creating a new criminal offence of paying for a sexual act.

The Bill would also repeal the existing offence, under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, of loitering, soliciting or importuning in a public place for the purposes of prostitution. People who have been convicted of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed by the new Bill.

The Member’s Bill would also give rights to ensure a person who is, or has been, in prostitution is provided with help and support. This could include accommodation, financial assistance, healthcare or legal advice and representation, depending on what is required.

As the call for views launched, Criminal Justice Committee Convener Audrey Nicoll MSP said: “This Bill raises important questions on prostitution in Scotland and how it is considered by our laws.

“It proposes changes on criminalisation, the quashing of previous convictions and the support given to those who work in this environment and we want to hear from a range of voices on whether they welcome these provisions.

“We are particularly keen to hear the views of people with lived experience, on whether they support the proposals or not, and whether the changes this Bill proposes will help achieve its ambitions.”

Let the Committee know your views 

The call for views closes on Friday 5 September 2025.

Hundreds of women advertised for prostitution in Edinburgh in one weekend as MP calls for action

Tracy Gilbert, Scottish Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, yesterday (10/06/2025) led a parliamentary debate at Westminster calling for urgent government action to address the demand driving prostitution and sex trafficking across the UK.  

The debate, “That this House has considered the matter of tackling demand for prostitution and sex trafficking”, focused on the urgent need to adopt a demand-reduction approach to tackle the exploitation of women and girls who are coerced, trafficked, or driven by poverty into the sex trade.  

The speech highlighted the issue in Edinburgh, and some of the vulnerable women who have been affected by this, including Fiona Broadfoot who has spoken out about her treatment whilst working in an Edinburgh brothel.  

Ms Gilbert said: “In Edinburgh over the weekend (7th –8th June 2025), 142 women were being advertised for prostitution on one pimping website alone.

“Five of the top ten adverts are explicitly posted by so-called ‘agencies’ – so the site isn’t even tryingto hide the organised nature of this exploitation.”

Tracy Gilbert highligh2ted that current legislation fails to effectively deter those who purchase sex and called on the Government to explore legislative models that criminalise the buying, not the selling, of sex, as adopted in countries such as Sweden and Norway.  

In her speech, Tracy Gilbert gave examples of reviews made after the buying of sex some included:  

  • “Bad attitude. Everything was off limits.”   
  • “Finally got her to lay2 there but it’s like shagging a dead fish.”   
  • “No smile, her atrocious English made the interactions even more impossible.”   

Tracy Gilbert added: “Men who buy sex are reviewing women as if they are reviewing an Xbox game.

“These comments prove that men who pay for sex treat women as subordinate sex objects whose role is to service their sexual desires.” 

Supporting women out of prostitution

National hub will offer joined-up services 

A national hub is to be created to support women out of prostitution. 

A pilot of the hub will begin in summer followed by a phased national roll out. The hub will bring together specialist services which support women affected by commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) – linking them more closely with local mainstream services, such as housing, health and social security.

The national hub is part of a new strategy to support women to safely exit from prostitution and challenge men’s demand for prostitution. The strategy also includes actions to tackle stigma for those with experience of prostitution and challenge the normalisation of men purchasing sex.

Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “Prostitution is recognised as a form of violence against women and girls, and is exploitation. By linking mainstream and specialist services, we will make it easier for women to access the support they need so they can sustainably exit from prostitution.

“A key part of our new strategy is the need to tackle the drivers of commercial sexual exploitation, including social and economic inequalities and the need for collective leadership from government, the third sector and beyond to tackle these. A new multi-agency group on commercial sexual exploitation will be established in March to help progress this work.”

Linda Thompson, national co-ordinator of the Women’s Support Project (WSP), said: “The WSP is pleased to see the Scottish Government reiterate that commercial sexual exploitation in all forms is violence against women and that those exploited must have robust comprehensive support and exiting services across the country.

“We hope that national and local leadership, with commitment, partnerships and specific resources, will disrupt this industry and hold to account all those who benefit and profit from the exploitation of inequality and vulnerability.” 

The hub will be rolled out in a phased approach across the following areas:

  • Edinburgh and Borders 
  • Highland, Perth & Kinross, Aberdeen and Dundee 
  • Glasgow and Ayrshire 

Following this roll out, the Hub will provide a network of support where organisations across Scotland can seek advice.

The new strategy has been informed by a range of partners, including those with experience of prostitution.  

Information on support for those affected by commercial sexual exploitation

Four jailed for human trafficking

Four people were jailed for trafficking offences at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.

Jagpal Singh (52) was sentenced to 10 years, Donglin Zhang (48) was sentenced to 8 years, Vlassis Ntaoulias (33) was sentenced to 7 years and Boonsong Wannas (62) was sentenced to six years and four months.

All four were previously convicted of human trafficking and brothel keeping offences.

Detective Superintendent Donna Duffy, in charge of Glasgow’s Human Trafficking Unit said: “I welcome the sentencing today. Human trafficking is a despicable crime that has an unmeasurable long term impact on its victims.

“We are committed to working alongside partners to tackle human trafficking and we will work to identify those responsible and protect their victims.

“I would like to thank all our partners including Home Office Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations.

“I would continue to encourage members of the community to contact us if they have any concerns as they are vital to helping us identify those involved.”