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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland in bid to outlaw paying for sex | Northern Ireland in bid to outlaw paying for sex |
| (30 days later) | |
| Paying for sex could become illegal in Northern Ireland if proposed changes in the law are introduced. | Paying for sex could become illegal in Northern Ireland if proposed changes in the law are introduced. |
| The crackdown on prostitution is part of a range of measures contained in draft legislation aimed at tackling human trafficking and exploitation in the region. | The crackdown on prostitution is part of a range of measures contained in draft legislation aimed at tackling human trafficking and exploitation in the region. |
| While activities such as kerb-crawling, pimping and brothel-keeping are illegal in the UK, selling or paying for sex is permitted. | While activities such as kerb-crawling, pimping and brothel-keeping are illegal in the UK, selling or paying for sex is permitted. |
| Democratic Unionist Lord Morrow, who is proposing the law change in a private member's bill, claimed the move would make human traffickers think twice about coming to Northern Ireland. | Democratic Unionist Lord Morrow, who is proposing the law change in a private member's bill, claimed the move would make human traffickers think twice about coming to Northern Ireland. |
| He said while it was illegal to pay for sex with a victim of human trafficking, it was often a difficult offence to prove. | He said while it was illegal to pay for sex with a victim of human trafficking, it was often a difficult offence to prove. |
| "I am trying to make it an offence to purchase sex because many of those who have been trafficked and sent to Northern Ireland are pushed into the sex trade," he said. | "I am trying to make it an offence to purchase sex because many of those who have been trafficked and sent to Northern Ireland are pushed into the sex trade," he said. |
| "Now it is very difficult to differentiate between a person who is coerced and a person who is a willing participant, so therefore what we are saying is if a person purchases sex then they are the offender." | "Now it is very difficult to differentiate between a person who is coerced and a person who is a willing participant, so therefore what we are saying is if a person purchases sex then they are the offender." |
| The human trafficking and exploitation bill, which was sent out for public consultation on Tuesday, has many hurdles to overcome if it is to become law – including gaining sufficient cross-party support across the Stormont chamber. | The human trafficking and exploitation bill, which was sent out for public consultation on Tuesday, has many hurdles to overcome if it is to become law – including gaining sufficient cross-party support across the Stormont chamber. |
| Lord Morrow said the problem of human trafficking in Northern Ireland was "escalating", highlighting police figures that showed there were 27 victims rescued last year, compared with 11 in 2008/09. | Lord Morrow said the problem of human trafficking in Northern Ireland was "escalating", highlighting police figures that showed there were 27 victims rescued last year, compared with 11 in 2008/09. |
| He said a ban on purchasing sex in Sweden had sent a strong signal to sex traffickers that it was not a good place to target. | He said a ban on purchasing sex in Sweden had sent a strong signal to sex traffickers that it was not a good place to target. |
| "We want to be getting this message out about Northern Ireland," said the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA. | "We want to be getting this message out about Northern Ireland," said the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA. |
| "Do not be sending your women here to Northern Ireland." | "Do not be sending your women here to Northern Ireland." |
| He said he was not naive enough to think his bill would stop prostitution outright, but he said it would make it more difficult for the trade to operate. | He said he was not naive enough to think his bill would stop prostitution outright, but he said it would make it more difficult for the trade to operate. |
| "I think if my bill becomes legislation, it will make it much more difficult for these pimps or these controllers to control women," he said. | "I think if my bill becomes legislation, it will make it much more difficult for these pimps or these controllers to control women," he said. |
| "The problem is this: when these unfortunate people are trafficked they are brought to Northern Ireland, their passports are confiscated, they are perhaps made to live a vile life, being fed on drugs and all of that. | "The problem is this: when these unfortunate people are trafficked they are brought to Northern Ireland, their passports are confiscated, they are perhaps made to live a vile life, being fed on drugs and all of that. |
| "My bill is designed to get to the root cause. If there is no demand for this trade then there is no market, so therefore it should hopefully wither on the vine." | "My bill is designed to get to the root cause. If there is no demand for this trade then there is no market, so therefore it should hopefully wither on the vine." |
| The public consultation period ends on 18 October. | The public consultation period ends on 18 October. |
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