Weather
Papers should face charges over sex ads, says group (From Streatham Guardian)
Contact us: Got a photo? Text 'SLPICS' to 80360. Got a story? Call the newsdesk: 020 8330 9532
Papers should face charges over sex ads, says group
12:49pm Friday 12th March 2010
Newspapers carrying prostitution advertisements should face the same penalties as men who pay to have sex with trafficked women, a campaign group has said.
Under new Government legislation, men can be prosecuted if they pay for sex with a trafficked woman, whether they knew about her situation or not.
Meanwhile, Croydon Community Against Trafficking (CCAT) said newspapers carrying ads for brothels are just as guilty for sustaining “a vile trade in human life” as the men who use them and should also be held criminally responsible.
Newsquest, the publisher of the South London Guardian series, banned the adverts from its 305 titles nationwide in 2008.
The company was persuaded there is a clear link between the adverts and women being trafficked for sex.
A CCAT spokeswoman said: “Newspaper publishers have a social and moral responsibility to ensure that they are not advertising illegal services in their pages - a simple phone call will demonstrate that many of the massage parlours advertised are actually brothels.
“Those that profit from people being sold against their will, are profiting from slavery, and this is completely unacceptable.
“Newsquest has taken a principled stand in this fight but other newspaper companies refuse to follow their example.
“Therefore we believe it is time for legislation to be introduced which criminalises the publication and distribution of the advertisements for brothels which are helping to sustain a vile trade in human life.
“It is high time publishers were made liable for what is advertised in their newspapers.”
CCAT welcomed news Labour ministers are considering criminalising publishers who run adverts for massage parlours and saunas.
A report into the sex industry, commissioned by MP Harriet Harman, showed more than 40 per cent of men access off-street prostitutes through local newspapers.
More News stories
- Mum of 25 ft fall toddler speaks of 'miracle' survival
- 'News raider' made media debut in Streatham Guardian
- Couple sue travel company after 'holiday from hell'
- Metal thieves target garden gates for £5-a-time profits
- Gannett Foundation grants up for grabs
- Field hockey on ice? Broomball comes to Streatham
- Political row over 'thousands of council job losses'
- Police hunt youths after robbery on estate
- 'Cooperative Council' steering group's first public meeting tonight
- Vigil for dog burnt alive
Your Say YourStreatham
theavengers, sutton says...
2:25pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Scared of reprisals, Battersea says...
2:31am Sun 14 Mar 10
Get rid of Brown and his cohorts and get rid of the Human Rights Act, then we might just stand a chance of getting a country back from the edge of oblivion!!
NastyMrTom, Croydon says...
11:37am Mon 15 Mar 10
No they haven't
prostitution is illegal ...
No it's not
yes, it's tragic that these wretched women are trafficked - but arresting the punters will not solve owt ...
seems logical that tackling demand will have an effect
roll on general election when we can have our say ...
just don't take any notice of this ill-informed joker
sniff sniff
mon chevalieer, heatherfield says...
12:20pm Mon 15 Mar 10
NastyMrTom, Croydon says...
12:52pm Mon 15 Mar 10
mcblount, Dungeoness says...
12:55pm Mon 15 Mar 10
mon chevalieer, heatherfield says...
2:50pm Mon 15 Mar 10
NastyMrTom wrote:lying about what? you must be confusing me with someone else
vote for whoever you please just make sure they're not lying halfwits that can't spell 'chevalier'
manboon, sutton says...
8:17pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Not all parlors are trafficked Girls/people after all, I'm sure. Most are legitimate people trying to pay for a good education to their kids.
Legalize it, tax them, and deal with people who traffic those poor people.
Once again it seems to be tackling the wrong part of the problem. Arrest the no gooders, and lock them up for a very long time to act as a deterrent. If they were not people trafficking, would they get a 9-5 office job instead?.
This country has been sold down the road. We are without a paddle!!.
Pray for some sensible leadership , in the very near future.
buck williams, yollary says...
2:22pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Angela M, Wimbledon says...
9:19am Wed 17 Mar 10
It's not like the 'legalise drugs' argument - all drugs carry risks whether regulated or not. Sex is a natural part of life, and if some women are willing to offer it to others, I can't see any problem with it.
concerned scoffer, says...
12:36pm Wed 17 Mar 10
NastyMrTom, Croydon says...
4:08pm Wed 17 Mar 10
sniff sniff
lol
miss moneyhoney, south says...
6:36pm Wed 17 Mar 10
concerned scoffer wrote:there is nothing wrong with those comments scoffer ! xx
I noticed my sensible and honest post was removed for no obvious reason other than the fact I dared link the trafficking of these wretched women to weak immigration policies!!... so much for free speech on local newspaper forums eh ?
Papers should face charges over sex ads, says group
Local Links
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Jan 77, says...
12:03pm Sat 13 Mar 10