Clause 15
12:00 pm
Lynda Waltho (Stourbridge, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman refers to the New Zealand example and the legislation, which is interesting and relevant. However, the evidence—or opinions—that I referred to earlier from Debbie Baker, stated that after five years of decriminalisation
“it hasn't really made a difference to the average girl out on the street, except there is more competition and the prices have gone down. Girls are working longer and harder and taking more risks to get a job, they aren't really checking out their clients.”
In addition, research by Melissa Farley in San Francisco shows that research does not stop the violence, abuse and stigma built into prostitution, and that it has increased dramatically in New Zealand since decriminalisation. Street prostitution has increased by 200 to 400 per cent. in Auckland alone. That is evidence rather than opinion.