23 Feb 2013

Demand to ban prostitutes from streets

1:18 pm on 23 February 2013

Businesses in Papatoetoe are asking the Government to ban sex workers from their streets and fix the damage caused by decriminalising prostitution.

The local government and environment select committee has been hearing submissions on a bill to outlaw street prostitution in Auckland in some areas.

The bill would give the police power to arrest prostitutes and their clients if soliciting took place in banned areas.

Hunters Corner Town Centre chairman Pat Taylor says street prostitution is out of control and the real victims are the businesses and residents who put up with intimidation, noise, and disturbing behaviour every day.

The Prostitutes Collective says it is doing everything in its power to work with the Papatoetoe community in addressing anti-social behaviour by sex workers.

A representative of the Prostitutes Collective says banning sex workers from the streets reverses all that was achieved with the Prostitution Reform Act in 2003 which decriminalised prostitution.

AnnahPickering says they are working with the community and have launched an 0800 number for complaints about anti-social behaviour.