Prostitution Bill Means Police Out, Criminals In
"The real impact of the proposed Prostitution Amendment Bill to be voted on by Members of Parliament on Wednesday means that the Police will be removed from involvement in overseeing or administering the industry and the criminals will move in straight behind" Police Association President Greg O'Connor said today.
"Gangs in New Zealand have become extremely well organised on the back of the methamphetamine trade and are now well poised to move into the vice area which worldwide is the domain of organised criminals" Mr O'Connor said. "There is now no restriction on who can work in a brothel or as a prostitute and so gangs provided they can find a frontman to act as operator will simply fill brothels up with their own people" he said.
"This legislation which was designed to protect sex workers is likely to expose them to more intimidation and stand over tactics than before.
"At least under the existing system, Mr O'Connor said, "vice squads have knowledge of what is happening in the sex industry. Under the new legislation this work will be done by Health Authorities and Local Bodies with no knowledge of the criminal world or ability to keep them out."
Mr O'Connor said the proposed legislation should be rejected and a new Bill put forward which is designed to protect sex workers by keeping criminals and organised crime out of the sex industry.
