Latest news with #CriminalJusticeCommittee
STV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
Minister has ‘significant and deep concerns' about Ash Regan's prostitution Bill
A Scottish Government minister has highlighted 'significant and deep concerns' about a new Bill which could quash convictions for those involved in prostitution. Siobhian Brown raised concerns about the move – which is part of legislation put forward by Alba MSP Ash Regan as part of her Bill to criminalise the buying of sex. The community safety minister insisted that quashing convictions was an 'exceptional' measure and 'not a step that can be taken lightly'. While Brown acknowledged Holyrood had passed legislation to quash convictions of those caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal, she said the cost of this was 'estimated to be £804,000 based on 200 people'. PA Media Community safety minister Siobhian Brown wrote to MSPs on the Criminal Justice Committee setting out the Government's initial view on the Bill (Jane Barlow/PA) She noted that documents submitted as part of Regan's Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill suggested that since 1982 a total of 10,459 women have been convicted of soliciting. With these documents also indicating that Police Scotland 'currently holds 2,773 case records involving 791 individuals', Brown said this 'raises some concerns about the accuracy of the associated costs – around £250,000 – detailed in the Bill's financial memorandum'. Her comments came in a letter to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee, which is due to scrutinise the legislation the Alba MSP has put forward. She went on to state there was 'insufficient detail' on how proposals to provide support to those involved in prostitution to help them change their lifestyle 'would work in practice', including how long such measures would be available for and what the costs would be. Regan's member's Bill also sets out to criminalise those buying sex while decriminalising those selling it. Under the proposals, those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 if the case was prosecuted in the sheriff courts – with these courts also able to impose jail sentences of up to six months. Brown stressed that while the Scottish Government backed the 'underlying intent of the Bill to challenge men's demand and to tackle commercial sexual exploitation', she added there were still 'significant questions and concerns regarding the measures within the Bill and how they would work in practice, the extent to which they would deliver on the policy intent, and the associated financial implications'. Her comments came after a paper published last week by the Scottish Government said evidence was 'limited' on the impact of these 'challenging demand approaches'. In the wake of that, sex worker safety charity National Ugly Mugs urged MSPs to 'pull the plug' on Regan's 'misguided and dangerous' Bill. Chief executive Lynsey Walton said: 'Sex worker groups, alongside leading NGOs like Amnesty and the World Health Organisation, have long warned that criminalising the purchase of sex only serves to make life more difficult and dangerous for sex workers, while having no impact on trafficking and exploitation. 'We are pleased that the Scottish Government has now accepted that the international evidence backs this up. 'MSPs now need to pull the plug on Ms Regan's misguided and dangerous legislation, and focus on supporting sex workers' rights to work safely and free from stigma.' Regan has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
MSPs call for views on Bill to criminalise those buying sex
People with 'lived experience' of prostitution and others are being urged to share their views on a Bill that could see men jailed for buying sex. Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee is seeking views on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill. The member's Bill, introduced by Alba party MSP Ash Regan, targets those who buy sexual services by creating a new criminal offence of paying for a sexual act. If passed, it would criminalise those buying sex, while decriminalising those selling it. Under the proposals, those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 if the case was prosecuted in the sheriff courts – with these courts also able to impose jail sentences of up to six months. Launching the call for views, 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.' The new Bill would 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. It 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. The call for views closes on September 5, 2025. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Holyrood launches call for views on bid to criminalise buying sex
Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee is seeking views on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill. The member's Bill, introduced by Alba party MSP Ash Regan, targets those who buy sexual services by creating a new criminal offence of paying for a sexual act. If passed, it would criminalise those buying sex, while decriminalising those selling it. READ MORE: Ash Regan's bid to criminalise buying sex – what you need to know Under the proposals, those convicted of buying sex could be fined up to £10,000 if the case was prosecuted in the sheriff courts – with these courts also able to impose jail sentences of up to six months. Launching the call for views, 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.' The new Bill would 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. It 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. The proposals follow the "Nordic Model" approach, which seeks to decriminalise selling sex but criminalise those who purchase it. The approach has now been adopted in Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Canada, France, Ireland, and most recently, Israel. READ MORE: Met police drop second terror charge against Kneecap Launching the Bill in May, Regan said: 'Ending prostitution is essential to achieving true equality between the sexes. A society that allows women's bodies to be bought and sold cannot claim to value them as equals. 'Challenging the demand that fuels sexual exploitation is not just about justice — it's about dignity, safety, and the right of all women, girls, and vulnerable men to live free from commodification and harm.' The call for views closes on Friday, September 5, 2025.
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Scotland will become a 'pimp nation' unless we ban the purchase of sex, says MSP
Alba's Ash Regan has introduced her bill to clampdown on people who pay for sex to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee. Scotland risks becoming a "pimp nation" if it does not ban the purchase of sex, an MSP has said. Alba's Ash Regan has introduced her bill to clampdown on people who pay for sex to Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee. The Edinburgh Eastern MSP said: ' Prostitution is not a theoretical debate. It is happening right now - in our cities, towns, and communities—to real women, many of whom are poor, addicted, traumatised, or displaced. "When women are reduced to what men can buy from them - we cannot look away. We must not allow Scotland to become a pimp nation.' kerb crawling laws. Regan's Bill would turn the tables by criminalising the purchase of sexual acts and decriminalising the selling of sex. She is proposing fines of up to £10,000 and six month jail sentences for sex buyers. Criminalisation of the buying of sex has been adopted in countries such as Sweden and Norway. It comes after the Daily Record's bombshell front page about a former prostitute claiming current MSPs bought sex from her when she sold her body for money. Regan told us last month the woman who was a former prostitute came forward to her after recognising her former male clients on TV. She said at the time: 'We know that in Scotland about one man in ten will buy sex, so that would suggest to us that there is a likelihood that there would be MSPs that buy sex, and there would be people in the civil service that buy sex. 'It was confirmed to me today that there are current, serving MSPs - and that is plural, so not just one, but there are multiple - who are sex buyers.' She added: 'She described seeing them on television'.' Asked if she believed the woman, Regan replied: 'Yes.' Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has since called for an investigation into 'horrifying' claims male MSPs paid a prostitute for sex. The issue was also later raised in Westminster by Labour MP Tracy Gilbert.
STV News
21-05-2025
- STV News
'Non-fatal strangulation offence will give survivors justice they deserve'
The mother of a student who took her life after being subject to abuse, including non-fatal strangulation, is urging MSPs to make it a new, stand-alone offence. Fiona Drouet is campaigning to change the law following the death of her daughter Emily in 2016. The 18-year-old law student was subjected to abuse and violence by her boyfriend before being found dead in her halls of residence in 2016. Emily's former boyfriend Angus Milligan was later convicted of physically and verbally abusing the teenager and was subsequently expelled from the university. He admitted to choking and slapping Emily as well as assaulting and threatening her during a campaign of abuse. Fiona Drouet is now urging ministers to make non-fatal strangulation a stand-alone offence to help deter offenders in the future. 'We are looking at an exceptionally serious crime that merits a law in itself, to be recognised as exceptionally high risk,' she told MSPs on Wednesday. 'It is very different to other forms of abuse.' Non-fatal strangulation is currently dealt with under the common law of assault in Scotland or under the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act. Ms Drouet said creating a new offence could help educate people about the crime and also deter offenders. She told MSPs that when a person has the oxygen supply to their brain restricted, 'they are going to have an automatic response of fighting, literally fighting for their life, something that is hugely traumatic'. She described it as being 'like a near-death experience'. The mum stood in front of Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee and read text messages her daughter had sent to friends before her death. In the messages, Emily said about her abuse: 'I was so scared, I thought I was going to die'. In another message, she said: 'I am so scared that I think I want to die.' 'If we have a stand-alone crime saying that was non-fatal strangulation, I think potentially it acts as a strong deterrent, a stronger message,' Fiona said. 'I'm worried any other approach minimises the severity and risk of the crime and doesn't give victims, survivors the justice that they absolutely deserve.' Non-fatal strangulation has already been made a stand-alone offence in the other nations of the UK, with detective superintendent Lindsay Fisher of the Police Service of Northern Ireland telling the committee about the impact there when new laws came in in June 2023. 'The improvements that having a stand-alone offence have been immense,' she told MSPs 'Within three days of the legislation going live, we had not only used the new stand-alone offence, but we had somebody appearing in court having been charged for it.' Dr Emma Forbes, national lead for domestic abuse in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said they are 'worried' by anecdotal evidence about the 'increased prevalence' of non-fatal strangulation particularly amongst young people. She told the committee that almost two-fifths of the 136 cases COPFS received from Police Scotland in March, which are being prosecuted under the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act, involved non-fatal strangulation. However, Dr Forbes insisted Scotland has 'effective legislation at the moment'. She accepted there are compelling reasons to create a specific offence of non-fatal strangulation saying that this would raise public awareness, which urgently needs to be done, and would also provide improved data on the number of such crimes. But she added: 'We have a very strong foundation in our law in Scotland and I would worry about the unintended consequences of a specific offence, not least because it would be more difficult evidentially to prove.' At the moment, Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee is considering a petition from Ms Drouet to make non-fatal strangulation a standalone criminal offence in Scotland. MSPs on the committee will listen to evidence from a variety of sources. If they decide that it should be a stand-alone offence, they can invite the Scottish Government to reflect on the evidence and ask if they have any plans to make non-fatal strangulation a standalone offence in Scotland. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
